Full text of "History of Scranton Postoffice"

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(X)}., E. H. RIPPLE.

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50686012393026 NOV 1 8 2003
SCRANTON

Ripple, Ezra Hoyt.
History of Scranton post
office; including the ear
ly history of Lackawanna
valley post-offices, a co
mplete list of Scranton,
Providence and Hyde Park

Scranton c Postoffice.

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2011 with funding from

LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation

http://www.archive.org/details/historyofscrantoOOripp

HISTORY

SCRANTON POSTOFFICE

INCLUDING
The Early History of Lackawanna Valley < Postoffices, a Complete
List of Scranton, 'Providence and Hyde Park Postmasters,
Date of Appointment and Length of Service — Biog-
raphies of Scranton' 's Postmasters — (Anec-
dotes and Miscellaneous SMatter.
Interesting and Valuable
Statistics, Etc.

'By

COL. E. H. CRIPPLE,

Scranton, 'Pa.

Tribune 'Publishing Company.

1901.

"Printed and "Bound in the

"Job and "Bindery "Departments of the

"Tribune "Publishing Company.

3g5

PREFACE.

Ltf

X OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER,

CO SCRANTON, Pa.

April 29, 1 go 1.
To the Public:

E 1

NTIRELY appreciating the many favors received at the
hands of the people of this city and county, I hereby
-< present to them this little history of the Postal Service of

,5^. Scranton and vicinity, hoping it may be considered by

"V them of sufficient interest and value to warrant its publica-

f. tion. It is as perfect as we have been able to make it from

y all obtainable data. As it may still be imperfect and in-

complete, we ask your indulgence for any errors or omissions
't that may appear in it.

,J The growth of the postal service has kept pace with the

j; business growth of this valley, and a study of the pages of

p this little work may give some very interesting and valuable

facts which may have been overlooked in the rush and hurry

. of your business.

0^ Whatever its value may be, I beg you to accept it with

the friendly regard of its author.
H EZRA H. RIPPLE,

*-> Postmaster of Scranton, Pa.

•

CONTENTS,

PAGE

Posts in Olden Times 5

Books Consulted in the Preparation of this Work 7

Scranton, Providence and Hyde Park Postmasters Alpha-
betically Arranged 8

Date of Appointment and Length of Service of Each Post-
master 9

Early History of Lackawanna Valley Postoffices 11

Mail Routes 13

Office Removed to Providence, Pa 15

Scrantonia Postoffice, Pa 15

First Postoffice 16

Scranton's Postmasters 16

Scranton Incorporated 16

Scranton's Rapid Growth 17

Hyde Park Postoffice 17

Location of Scranton Postoffice 17

Biographies of Scranton's Postmasters 19

Benjamin Slocum 19

Frances, the Indians' Captive 20

John Vaughn, Jr 21

Voltaire Searle 23

Jacob R. Bloom, Sr 26

John P. Harding 27

David S. Koon 27

Henry Reichard 28

Charles Townsend Atwater 28

Sylvanus Eastabrooks 30

Dr. Horace Hollister 30

Benjamin P. Couch 31

Jacob R. Bloom, Jr 32

Dr. Henry Roberts 32

John W. Moore 34

Major Joel Amsden 34

Dr. 'Benjamin H. Throop 36

Laton S. Fuller 38

Douglas H. Jay 39

A. Hampton Coursen 40

Dr. William H. Pier 41

James Scovell Slocum 42

Joseph A. Scranton 43

Edward Charles Fuller 44

D. W. Connolly 45

D. M. Jones 46

Frank M. Vandling 48

William Merri field 49

Robert Merrifield 53

Joseph Griffin 53

Oliver P. Clarke 54"

Dr. Silas M. Wheeler 55

Joseph Turvey Fellows 56

Dr. Augustus Davis 57

Major M. L. Blair 57

Thomas D. Thomas 59

Lackawanna County Postoffices 61

Gouldsboro, Carboudale, Jermyn, Archbald 61

Moscow, LaPlume, Olyphant, Dickson City Borough, Dun-
more, Clark's Green 62

Teach Flats, Glenburn, Dalton, Abington and Waverly,
Fleetville, Clifton, Daleville, Kizer's Mills and Drinker,

Madisouville 63

Newton Township, Bald Mount and Schultzville, Old Forge,

Ransom Township, Dunnings, Scott Township 64

Spring Brook Township, Yostville 65

Postoffice at Pittston 65

Harrison, Scrantonia, Scranton 66

Scrantonia Postoffice 66

In Honor of Harrison 66

APPENDIX—

National Association of Letter Carriers' Convention 71

Public Reception 72

Banquet to Postmasters 72

Convention Officially Opens 73

Eight-Hour Day 73

Salaries, Retirement, Etc 74

Election of Officers 74

Revising the Constitution 75

Praise for Scranton 75

Anecdotes and Miscellaneous Matter 77

How the Mails Disappeared 78

Music in the Postoffice 78

Ye Old Mail Coach 7S

Captivated by Wiles of Venus 79

Hyde Park Sub-Station 79

Turtle in Postmaster's Pocket 79

A Philanthropic Postmaster 80

"Boot" Paid in Cattle 80

Postage Stamps Introduced 81

Only Goose Quill Pens Then 81

The Searles of New England 81

The Vaughns 82

Several Slocums Were Postmasters 83

Ira Tripp 84

Reichard Family S5

Dr. Augustus Davis 85

Oldest Postmaster in Active vService 86

John P. Harding 87

STATISTICAL—

Postoffice Statistics 91

List of the Present Chief Officers of the Postoffice Depart-
ment at Washington, D. C 91

List of the Present Officers and Employees at the Scrautou
Postoffice 92

List of Present Postoffices and Postmasters of Lackawanna
County 94

Statement Showing Amount of Business Transacted at the
Scranton Postoffice 96

Comparative Statement 97

Schedule of Arrival and Departure of Mails 99

Parcels-Post 100

Classification of Domestic Mail Matter 10 1

Preparation of Domestic Matter for Mailing 102

Regulations Regarding Forwarding of Mail to Persons

in the United States Service 105

Money Order Division 107

City Delivery no

Postal Dictionary 113

Information for the Public 113

Precautions Before Mailing 1:4

Prices of Stamped Envelopes 115

Special Request Envelopes j 1 6

Rates of Postage 1 16

United States Postal Agency at Shanghai 118

'Posts in Olden Times,

The post as a measure of speed, the sealing of letters to
insure secrecy, and the first means of postal communication
by post riders as messengers are referred to in the Old Testa-
ment as follows :
B. C. 1520. — "Now my days are swifter than a post." — Job

ix-25.
B. C. 900. — "So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and
sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters
unto the nobles that were in his city, dwelling
with Naboth." — 1st Kings xxi-8.
B. C. 726. — "So the posts went with the letters from the
king and his princes throughout all Israel and
Judah, and according to the commandment of
the king." — 2nd Chron. xxx-6.
B. C. 726. — "So the posts passed from city to city through
the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even
unto Zebulon. " — 2nd Chron. xxx-10.
B. C. 595. — "One post shall run to meet another and one
messenger to meet another to show the king
of Babylon that his city is taken at one end. ' '
— Jeremiah li-31.
B. C. 510. — "And the letters were sent by posts into all the
king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to
cause to perish all Jews, both young and old,
little children and women." — Esther iii-13.
B. C. 510. — "Write ye also for the Jews as it liketh you in
the king's name and seal it with the king's
ring ; for the writing which is written in the
king's name and sealed with the king's ring
let no man reverse." — Esther viii-8.

B. C. 510. — "And he wrote in the King Ahasuerus' name
and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent let-
ters by posts on horseback, and riders on
mules, camels and young dromedaries." —
Esther viii-10.

B. C. 510. — "So the posts that rode upon mules and camels
went out, being hastened and pressed on by
the king's commandment." — Esther viii-14.

Darius I, of Persia, who reigned in the Fifth Century, B. C. ,
caused couriers with saddle-horses to be always
ready at different stations throughout his em-
pire, at one day's journey from each other, so
that there might be no delay in getting reports
from the provinces.

Emperor Augustus established among the Romans an institu-
tion similar to the modern post.

During the Ninth Century messengers who travelled on horse-
back, and who were employed by their respect-
ive governments, existed in Germany, France
and Italy.

'Books Consulted in the Preparation of this • Work.

In the preparation of this work the following books,
among others, have been consulted :

"History of Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming Counties,
Pa." W. W. Munsell & Co., New York.

"Miner's History of Wyoming Valley." '

"Pearce's Annals of Luzerne."

"Encyclopedia of Contemporary Biography of Pennsylvania."
Atlantic Publishing & Engraving Co., New York.

"Portrait and Biographical Record of Lackawanna County."
Chapman Publishing Co., New York.

"J. C. Piatt's Reminiscenses."

Dr. Hollister's "History of the Lackawanna Valley."

Dr. Benjamin H. Throop's "A Half Century in Scranton. "

"Short History of the Slocum, Slocumb & Slocomb Families,
1737-81." By Chas. E. Slocum, M. D., of Philadel-
phia, Pa.

The work of compiling this history has been done by Mr.
John Power O'Connor, who has patiently chased up authori-
ties, sought out the old residents, cornered all the traditions
and trailed every item of information to its lair with a persis-
tence that has been most commendable. By correspondence
and personal interviews he has procured much information
that has never before been made public.

Scranton, Providence and Hyde Vark Postmasters
(Alphabetically Arranged.

Amsden, Joel
Atwater, Charles T.
Atwater, Elizabeth
Blair, M. L.
Bloom, J. R. , Sr.
Bloom, J. R., Jr.
Clarke, O. P.
Connolly, D. W.
Couch, B. P.
Coursen, A. H.
Davis, Dr. A.
Eastabrooks, Sylvanus
Fellows, Joseph Turvey
Fuller, E. C.
Fuller, Laton S.
Griffin, Joseph
Harding, John P.
Hollister, Dr. H. H.
Jay, Douglas H.

Jones, D. M.
Koon, D. S.
Merrifield, Robert
Merrifield, Wm.
Moore, John W.
Pier, Dr. W. H.
Reichard, Henry
Ripple, Ezra H.
Roberts, Dr. H.
Scranton, J. A.
Searle, Voltaire
Slocum, Benjamin
Slocum, Jas. Scovell
Thomas, Thomas D.
Throop, Dr. B. H.
Vandling, Frank M.
Vaughn, John, Jr.
Wheeler, Dr. Silas

Date of (Appointment and Length of Service of Each
'Postmaster.

OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL,
Washington, D. C.

February 27, 1901.
Mr. Ezra H. Ripple, Postmaster,

Scranton, Pa.
Dear Sir :

By direction of the Postmaster General I enclose you
herewith a list of the postmasters at Hyde Park, Providence
and Scranton, Pennsylvania, with the dates of their appoint-
ments, as requested in your letter of January 5.
Very truly yours,

Clarence E. Dawson,

Private Secretary.

Hyde Park, Luz. Co., Wm. Merrifield,

July 14, 1832

Robert Merrifield,

Aug. 9, 1832

Wm. Merrifield,

1834-43

Joseph Griffin,

1843-46

0. P. Clarke,

1846-57

Silas Wheeler,

1857-61

Joseph Turvey Fellows,

1861-66

Augustus Davis,

1866-67

Wm. Merrifield,

1867-69

M. L. Blair,

1869-73

Thomas D. Thomas,

1873-82

Hyde Park, Lack. Co. , Thomas D. Thomas,

Feb. 28, 188;

Office discontinued Oct. 22, 1883.

Providence, Luz. Co.,

Benjamin Slocum,

1811-29

John Vaughn,

1829-39

Voltaire Searle,

1839-40

J. R. Bloom,

1840-45

John P. Harding,

1845-46

David S. Koon,

1846-49

Henry Reichard,

1849-51

Charles T. Atwater,

1851-52

Elizabeth Atwater,

1852-54

Sylvanus Eastabrooks,

1854

H. Hollister,

1854-61

B. P. Couch,

1861-67

J. R. Bloom, Jr.,

1867-69

Henry Roberts,

1869-80

Providence, Lack. Co.

, Henry Roberts,

Jan. 8, 1880

Office discontinued Oct. 22, 1883.

Scrantonia, Luz. Co.,

John W. Moore,

1850-51

Scranton, Luz. Co.,

John W. Moore,

1851-53

Joel Amsden,

1853

Scranton, Luz. Co.,

Benjamin H. Throop,

1853-57

Laton S. Fuller,

1857-61

Douglas H. Jay,

1861-64

A. H. Coursen,

1864-66

W. H. Pier,

1866-69

James S. Slocum,

1869-74

J. A. Scranton,

1874-81

Scranton, Lack. Co.,

E. C. Fuller,

May 5, 1881-

D. W. Connolly,

1885-89

D. M. Jones,

1889-93

Frank M. Vandling,

1893-97

Ezra H. Ripple,

1897

Early History of Lackawanna Valley Postoffices.

Under the name of "Providence," the first postoffice in
the Lackawanna valley was established at Unionville, January
10, 1811.

Benjamin Slocum was the first postmaster in the place.
His father and mother, Jonathan and Ruth (Tripp) Slocum,
along with their seven sons and three daughters, were the first
of the Slocums that came from Rhode Island to settle in the
Wyoming valley. That was in the year 1777.

Frances Slocum, the Indians' captive, was Postmaster
Benjamin's sister, and his father, Jonathan, and maternal
grandfather, Isaac Tripp, were killed by the red men, Decem-
ber 16, 1778.

Unionville had also been known by the name of Dark
Hollow or Deep Hollow. The Slocums christened it Union-
ville. It was a small hamlet, but soon became an important
manufacturing centre, and afterwards formed part of the terri-
tory that was successively called Slocum Hollow or Slocum' s
Hollow, Lackawanna Iron Works, Harrison, Scrantonia and
Scranton.

In 1798 Benjamin's brother, Ebenezer Slocum, went into
partnership with James Duwain and purchased from John and
Seth Howe, two of the earliest settlers in this district, the
grist mill and undivided land at Deep Hollow. The transfer
of the properties from the Howes to Slocum and Duwain was
hastened by a terrible tragedy in the Howe family, which sad
affair is thus described by Dr. Hollister : "Lydia, the eldest
born of John Howe, depressed by some disappointed visions
of girlhood, was found dead in her chamber, having hanged
herself with a garter attached to her bedpost. The effect of
this suicide — the first in the valley — removed every speculat-

ing consideration or cavil from a trade which placed the mill
and the wild acres around it in the hands of the Slocums. ' '

Ebenezer Slocum and his partner Duwain enlarged the
grist mill, added a distillery to it, and in 1799 built a saw mill
and a blacksmith shop nearby. These plants, a copper shop,
and a few rude dwellings were all the structures that could be
seen in Slocum Hollow in 1800.

The spring freshet of 1799 carried away two of the mill
dams and Duwain, becoming discouraged by their loss, with-
drew from partnership with Ebenezer Slocum. Duwain' s
place was immediately filled by Benjamin Slocum, Ebenezer' s
brother, and the two new partners, with that sturdiness of
character, perseverance and industry for which the Slocum
family has always been noted, began operations which resulted
in establishing a splendid business reputation for them and in
bringing plenty of money to their treasury.

In 1800 the Slocum brothers built in the Hollow a forge
which had two fires and one trip hammer. Anthracite coal,
not having as yet come into general use, charcoal was used for
heating purposes at the forge. Iron ore was placed in stone
furnaces, melted and separated from the slag. The iron was
again melted and formed into balls which were worked into
any desirable shape by means of the trip hammer. All kinds
of serviceable agricultural instruments were made in the Slo-
cum plants and the farmers from the surrounding country
eagerly began to purchase them. The Slocums began to
prosper. The dams destroyed by the freshet were rebuilt by
a farmer's "bee." Elisha Hitchcock, a hard-working and
reliable young man — he afterward married Ebenezer Slocum' s
daughter, Ruth — repaired the mill and the firm put another
in operation in 181 1. The land about the Hollow was then
cleared, and large quantities of iron, lumber, flour, feed and
whiskey were produced by the several Slocum plants.

Joseph Slocum, a son of Ebenezer, speaking about his

father's and his uncle's business at the Hollow, said : "All
transactions here, and all transactions on my father's books,
bear the name of Unionville as late as 1828 ; but the place
was known far and near as Slocum Hollow, and was so named
in 1 816 by a jolly Dutchman named James Snyder."

Forty or fifty men were employed at the works in the
Hollow and the firm had several teams on the road carrying
whiskey, provisions, flour and feed to neighboring towns.

Slocum Hollow iron was of good quality and was much
sought after. But the ore began to fail, rival furnaces sprang
up in other places, and prices for iron had to be so greatly
reduced that its manufacture was no longer profitable. The
star of the Slocums was no more in the ascendant. Nor did
things generally show any signs of improvement.

The Slocums made their last iron June 10, 1822, and a
few years later their last whiskey. In the spring of 1826
Ebenezer and Benjamin Slocum dissolved partnership. Ben-
jamin went to Tunkhannock and died there in 1832. Eben-
ezer went to his reward the same year.

And then Unionville, which for a quarter of a century had
been one of the busiest and happiest places in the country,
became, for a time at least, a sad, silent and dark village.

During their operations at Unionville the Slocums became
the owners of 1800 acres of land, the greater part of which
was underlaid with coal.

Joseph Slocum, Ebenezer' s son, built a saw mill ifi the
Hollow in 1848. He sold it to T. P. Reddington, who was
unable to pay for it, and it was disposed of at sheriff's sale.
It was bought in by Mr. Slocum and he sold it to John Beek-
man in 1858. It has long since decayed, and there is noth-
ing even of its ruins left to mark the spot where it stood.

MAIL ROUTES.

The History of Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming
Counties, says : "The first regular stage, a two-horse

vehicle, was established between Easton and Philadelphia in
1806 by Messrs. Robinson and Arndt. The trip was made
weekly and required a day and a half each way. Conrad
Teter is still remembered by some of the oldest citizens as one
of the earliest stage proprietors. He carried the mail in his
stage weekly between Sunbury and Painted Post by way of
Wilkes-Barre, Tunkhannock, etc., from 1810 to 181 6. Pearce
says of him : 'He was a large, fat man, of a jovial disposition
and desirous of making a favorable impression on strangers.
He drove stage, his own stage, up the river. He took
pleasure in pointing out his farms to the passengers. He
frequently informed them as he passed the large residence and
farm of Colonel Benjamin Dorrance, in Kingston, that he
was the owner, and if asked why he drove stage would reply
that he loved to rein four horses but had no taste for
farming. '

"About the year 1822 the first stage ran between Wilkes-
Barre and Dundaff. It was at first a two-horse vehicle,
and was run by the brothers Daniel and John Searle. Two
years later a four-horse vehicle replaced the first, and the
route intersected the Milford and Owego Turnpike at
Carbondale. The Searle Brothers were then the proprietors
of the line. Pearce records George Root as the veteran
stage driver of this region, a title which a service of forty
years entitled him to."

When the postofhce was established at Unionville (Provi-
dence P. O. ) the mail was carried on horseback by Zephaniah
Knapp twice a week, and in bad weather once a week. His
route was from Wilkes-Barre, via Slocum Hollow, to Wilson-
ville, then the county seat of Wayne county. He returned
by way of Bethany, Belmont, Montrose and Tunkhannock.

The Unionville postofhce was at the upper distillery which
stood on the site now cccupied by the blast furnaces.

OFFICE REMOVED TO PROVIDENCE, PA.

Postmaster Benjamin Slocum served for several years and
then resigned in favor of John Vaughn, Jr., who in 1829
removed the office to his store on the southwest side of
Razorville Corners, which was then known by several people
as "Centreville," but which we now call Providence.

The removal of the postoffice from Unionville to Provi-
dence left the Unionville or Slocum Hollow part of the district
without a postoffice for twenty-one years, or prior to the
establishment of the office at Scrantonia on April 1, 1850,
when John W. Moore was appointed postmaster.

"In the winter of 1847-48," said J. C. Piatt, in a lec-
ture before the Scranton Historical Society, "a census was
taken to show the necessity of a postoffice at this place
(Harrison, Scrantonia or the Lackawanna Iron Works).

0. P. Clarke, postmaster at Hyde Park, gave a written
statement showing that seven-tenths of the mail matter re-
ceived at his office went to Harrison or the Lackawanna
Iron Works. The petition asked to have Dr. B. H. Throop
made postmaster, but President Polk's Postmaster General
ignored the application.

SCRANTONIA POSTOFFICE, PA.

' 'Another effort was made during the session of Congress
of 1849-50, which resulted in the establishment of an office
under the name of Scrantonia, and the late John W. Moore
was made postmaster. The writer Q. C. Piatt] took the
first letter and paper from the office when it opened, April

1, 1850."

According to Dr. Throop, John W. Moore, who opened
the first tailor shop in the Hollow — or Harrison, as it was
then called in honor of that President's recent election —
obtained permission to take the mail matter from Hyde Park
to his store and there distribute it to the persons to whom it
was addressed. He soon, however, tired of the thankless

job, says Dr. Throop, and induced Joel Amsden to assume
the postmastership. Mr. Amsden, too, soon gave up the
undertaking, asserts the doctor, and desired to be released
from the position, as there were no facilities for conducting
the business properly.

Dr. Throop goes on to say that he himself erected a
dwelling and drug store about where Clark & Snover had
their tobacco factory until a few years ago. It was a two-
story frame-structure, and at the front end of the counter a
desk was arranged to give ample facilities for handling the
mail. "I was appointed postmaster," says Dr. Throop, "by
S. R. Hobie, Assistant Postmaster General, May 6, 1853,
and commissioned by Franklin Pierce, February 4, 1857, and
continued under"the administration of President Buchanan.
The office was in charge of E. C. Fuller, my deputy, for all
these years, until Laton S. Fuller, his brother, was appointed
my successor."

FIRST POSTOFFICE.

It will, no doubt, have been observed by the reader, that,
although the first postoffice in the Lackawanna valley was
called "Providence," that that office was really opened at
Unionville or Slocum Hollow, a place that afterward spread
out and became the city of Scranton proper.
scranton's postmasters.

The following gentlemen served as postmasters of Scran-
ton in the order named : John W. Moore, 1850-53 ; Joel
Amsden, 1853 ; Benjamin H. Throop, 1853-57 ; Laton S.
Fuller, 1857-61 ; Douglas H. Jay, 1861-64 '> A. Hampton
Coursen, 1864-66 ; W. H. Pier, 1866-69 > James Scovell
Slocum, 1869-74 >' Joseph A. Scranton, 1874-81 ; E. C. Ful-
ler, 1881-85; D. W. Connolly, 1885-89; D. M. Jones, 1889-
93 ; Frank M. Vandling, 1893-97 ; Ezra H. Ripple, 1897.

SCRANTON INCORPORATED.

The city of Scranton was incorporated April 23, 1866,

and now embraces within its territorial limits the ancient bor-
oughs of Providence and Hyde Park, but the two latter
places continued to have separate postoffices until the exten-
sion of the free delivery service to them in 1883, when their
offices were abolished.

scranton's rapid growth.
Very few cities in this or any other country have grown
so rapidly in population and wealth as Scranton. In 1850,
the population was 2,230 ; in i860, 9,223 ; in 1870 (includ-
ing Providence and Hyde Park boroughs), 35,092 ; in 1880,
45)850 ; in 1890, 75,000 ; in 1900, 102,000.

HYDE PARK POSTOFFICE.

The Hyde Park postoffice was established July 14, 1832,
and the late Judge William Merrifield, father of our distin-
guished townsman, Edward Merrifield, was the first post-
master here. Judge Merrifield held the office for less than
a month — from July 14, 1832, to August 9, 1832 — then he
moved out of Hyde Park, and his father, Robert Merrifield,
was appointed. On returning to Hyde Park, Wm. Merri-
field was reappointed postmaster, June 5, 1834. Judge
Merrifield was succeeded by Joseph Griffin, 1843, and
his successors were Oliver P. Clark, 1846 ; Dr. S. M.
Wheeler, 1857 ; Joseph Turvey Fellows, 1861 ; Augustus
Davis, 1866 ; Judge William Merrifield, 1867 ; Captain M.
L. Blair, 1869-73 ; Thomas D. Thomas, 1873-83.

LOCATION OF SCRANTON POSTOFFICE.

In 1850 the Scrantonia postoffice was in a building near
the iron works. It was removed to Amsden's block early in
1853 and soon afterward to a building which stood on the
ground now occupied by the Scranton Bedding Company.
In 1855 it was removed to Fuller's Drug Store ; in 1861 to a
building on the site of the First National Bank ; in 1864 to a
building on the site of 310 Lackawanna avenue ; in 1865 to

the corner of Center street and Penn avenue ; in 1871 to
Wyoming avenue ; then to the corner of Penn avenue and
Spruce street, and in 1894 the new postoffice was completed
and the business was transferred to that establishment.

Biographies of Scranton's Postmasters.

BENJAMIN SLOCUM.

Benjamin Slocum was the first postmaster of the first post-
office in the Lackawanna valley. That office, as already
stated, was established in 1811 at Unionville, or Slocum Hol-
low, but it was officially known as the "Providence" post-
office. Providence township was called after Providence,
Rhode Island, by some of the pioneer settlers in this part of
the country.

Benjamin Slocum was born December 7, 1770. He was
the son of Jonathan and Ruth (Tripp) Slocum. In middle
life he married Phoebe La France in Providence Town-
ship. The following four children were the result of this
union : Maria, married Dr. Silas Robinson, of Hyde Park ;
Frances, married Samuel Nicholson, of Wilkes-Barre ; Ruth,
married Henry Stark, of Tunkhannock; Thomas Truxton,
a son, also married. Mr. Slocum went into partnership with
his brother Ebenezer, at Slocum Hollow, where they con-
ducted the business connected with their grist mill, saw mills,
forge, still house, and flour, feed and provision stores.

One of Benjamin's brothers, William, was sheriff of
Luzerne county from 1796 to 1799. Luzerne county in those
days included the territory now covered by Luzerne, Wyo-
ming, Susquehanna and Bradford counties. Later, from 1849
to 1852, another brother, Joseph, was associate judge of
Luzerne county.

Postmaster Benjamin's nephew, Joseph Slocum, the son
of Ebenezer, was well known to the present generation here-
abouts. By inheritance and purchase he owned at one time
over 600 acres of coal lands in the heart of the city of Scran-
ton, and by the sale of these lands he realized a considerable
fortune. He was the first burgess of Scranton, and for many

years city auditor. In December, 1880, he and his faithful
and devoted wife celebrated their golden wedding, and the
affair was attended by the Slocums from all over the country.
He died in June, 1890.

Joseph Warren Slocum, grandnephew of Postmaster
Benjamin and son of Joseph Slocum, now lives with his family
at the homestead in South Scranton. He was for many years
Deputy United States Marshall. He possesess many interest-
ing relics of the Slocum family and is an entertaining and
instructive conversationalist.

FRANCES, THE INDIANS* CAPTIVE.

Postmaster Benjamin's sister, Frances, was carried into
captivity by the Indians, November 21, 1778, and she never
returned. Some of her relatives visited her in 1837, at her
home near Logansport, Ind. , and requested her to return
to the Wyoming valley with them, but she refused to do so.
She was married to an Indian and had a family. She died at
her residence on the Mississinewa, near Peru, Ind., March 23,
1847. The postmaster's father and maternal grandfather,
Jonathan Slocum and Isaac Tripp, respectively, were killed
and scalped by Indians and Tories in the town post of Wilkes-
Barre, December 16, 1778, and Benjamin's brother, Wil-
liam, was wounded at the same time by the red men.

Benjamin Slocum was postmaster of Unionville (Provi-
dence) from 181 1 to 1829, when he resigned in favor of John
Vaughn, Jr., who removed the office to "Razorville Cor-
ners," which at that time was called "Centreville" by some,
and which is now known as Providence. Mr. Slocum soon
afterward retired to Tunkhannock, where he died July 5,
1832. His brother, Ebenezer, with whom he had been so
many years in partnership at Unionville, died twenty days
later, July 25, 1832.

The Slocums were Quakers, and like most persons of their
religious views were kind, patient, hard-working and perse-

vering. They had faith in the Supreme Being, in their fel-
low men and in themselves, and with that faith, and such
other qualities as they possessed, it would have been next to
impossible for them not to have made the world better for
their having lived in it.

Today there is scarcely a town or city of any considerable
size in the United States that one cannot find representatives
of the Slocum family, and like their ancestors, they are all
good, trustworthy people and an honor to every community
in which they reside.

JOHN VAUGHN, JR.

John Vaughn, Jr., succeeded Benjamin Slocum as post-
master of Providence. The office as before stated was at first
situated in Unionville or Slocum Hollow. Mr. Vaughn moved
it to "Razorville Corners," now Providence, in 1829. He
held the position of postmaster until 1839.

The Vaughns have a remarkable and interesting history.
Mayor Frederick W. Vaughn, of Fremont, Neb. , who is writ-
ing a full account of the family, in response to inquiries made
by the compiler of this book, spoke as follows :

"My father, E. R. Vaughn, now over eighty years of age,
says : 'There were three brothers came either from New
York state or Connecticut. The brothers were named John,
Edward and Richard.'

"Richard, my great grandfather, located near Wyalusing,
John at Providence township and Edward went further south,
and I think finally stopped at Philadelphia. Richard was a
private in the Revolutionary War, enlisting September 1,
1777, in Captain Peter Grant's Company of Grayson's Regi-
ment of Foot Continental Troops, commanded by William
Grayson. When Richard's term of enlistment was over he
came home and was appointed May 1, 1789, by Governor
Mifflin, Lieutenant of the Fifth Company of Foot, in the Sec-
ond Battalion of Militia in the County of Luzerne."

The John Vaughn referred to by Mayor Vaughn was
Captain Vaughn, the father of Postmaster John Vaughn, Jr.

Dr. Hollister, in his "History of the Lackawanna Valley,"
writes as follows concerning the captain :

"Upon the road through Providence to Carbondale the
observer cannot fail to notice in Blakely, lying just below the
road in the meadows to the southwest, a large orchard where
(Capt. ) John Vaughn, who had seen service in border war-
fare, settled with his sons in 1797."

Captain Vaughn had several sons and daughters. Old
residents of Providence remember some of them. John L.
Travis, of Scranton, has a distinct recollection of John, Jr.,
Moses, and Isaac, three of the captain's sons. There was
another son, Henry, who seems to have dropped out of the
memory of the present generation. Samuel Wint, of Provi-
dence, himself an old soldier, who married one of Postmaster
Vaughn's daughters, has documents in his possession which
show that this Henry was commissioned a second lieuten-
ant in the Sixth Company, 11 6th Pennsylvania Volunteers,
and that while engaged as a ship carpenter on board the
steamer Tasmania he fell overboard and was drowned in the
Mississippi about the year 1821.

Postmaster John Vaughn, Jr., was born in 1797. In 1842
he was married to Malvina Marsh, of Carbondale. The follow-
ing children of the marriage survive : Mrs. Frances Dunn,
Mrs. Emma Wint, Mrs. Delcie McKean, Mrs. Valvacy Epp-
ling, and Albert Vaughn, a machinist.

Mrs. John Vaughn died in February, 1898, aged seventy-
four years.

In 1814, when the future postmaster, John Vaughn, Jr.,
was in his seventeenth year, he became a member of a detach-
ment, under Captain Peter Hallock, from the 35th Regiment
of old Luzerne county to, go, with four other detachments
from regiments in adjoining counties, to defend the city of Bal-

timore when that place was threatened by the British. The
detachments proceeded as far as Danville, when on the receipt
of the news of the repulse of the enemy, they were ordered to
return.

Postmaster Vaughn received a pension for this service up
to the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1859. The
pension was continued to his widow up to the time of her
demise in February, 1898. Postmaster Vaughn was a Justice
of the Peace in Providence. He was for many years a prom-
inent merchant in the borough. He was, at one time, in
partnership with John Heermans. The two conducted a gen-
eral store. Mr. Vaughn had also Nathan Wint as a partner;
that was in 1857-58, a year or two prior to the former's
death.

Mr. Vaughn was made a member of Lodge 61, F. & A.
M., at Wilkes-Barre, in 1825.

VOLTAIRE SEARLE.

Voltaire Searle, who succeeded John Vaughn, Jr. , as post-
master of Providence, was born in 18 10. He was the son of
Miner and Eunice Searle, and great grandson of Constant
Searle, one of the victims of the Wyoming massacre.

Mr. Searle was twice married — the first time in 1837 to
Miss Caroline T. Vaughn, who bore him three children,
one of whom, Duane Searle, survives. He is an architect
and engineer and lives at 21 Astor place, Jersey City, N. J.
Mr. Searle' s second marriage took place in 1846, and this
time he was wedded to Miss Amanda Carey. Two children
were born of this union. They are George Searle, of New
York, and Joseph Miner Searle, of Pittsburg.

Postmaster Voltaire Searle came of brave and patriotic
stock. Pearce's Annals of Luzerne gives the following
account of the Searle family :

"In reply to your question, I said that Mr. Stephen Abbot
married a Searle — Abigail, daughter of William Searle. He

was a son of Constant Searle. The last named (Mrs. Abbot's
grandfather) was in the battle. He was a man advanced in
age, having several sons and daughters married, and being the
grandfather of several children.

" 'What ! Old men ! Grandfathers ! were such subject to
go out ?'

' 'They were ; the able-bodied men fit for war being
marched away created the terrible necessity which drew to the
battlefield old and young.

"Mr. Searle was there and a son of his, Roger Searle,
quite a young man ; his son-in-law, Captain Dietrick Hewitt,
commanded the Third Company raised at Wyoming by order
of Congress, a very short time before the invasion.

"So there were three of the family in this engagement.
A fourth, William Searle, would also have been there, but was
at the time confined to the house by a wound received from a
rifle shot while on a scouting party a few days previous to the
battle.

"How unsuitable it was that a man like old Mr. Searle
should go out will further appear from the fact that he wore a
wig, as was not unusual with aged men in those days. The
bloody savages, in their riotous joy after their victory, made
this appendage a source of great merriment. A prisoner
(adopted, I have reason to think, after the Indian fashion)
was painted and permitted to go down from Wintermoots to
Forty Fort to take leave of his mother, under a guard. When
near the brook that runs by Colonel Denison's he saw a
group of savages in high glee. On going near he beheld an
Indian on a colt with a rope over the bridle having on his
head, hind side before, the wig of Mr. Searle. The colt
would not go and one of the wretches pricked him with his
spear. He sprang suddenly ; the Indian fell on one side, the
wig on the other, and the demons raised a yell of delight.

"Mr. Searle before he went out to battle took off a pair of

silver knee buckles which he wore and gave them to his fam-
ily, saying that they might impede his movements ; if he fell
he would not need them, and if he returned he could get
them. There was evidently a strong presentiment in his
mind, 'I go to return no more.'

"Old men, unfit for war, by the necessity of the case, were
forced into the field against trained, youthful and expert war-
riors.

' 'The very young were there also. Roger Searle, son of
Constant Searle, a young man of eighteen or nineteen, stood
by the side of William Buck, a lad of fourteen. They fought
together. Buck fell. Searle escaped.

"William Searle, Mrs. Abbott's father, went out through
the wilderness with the family, having twelve women and
children under his care. I have seen a memorandum kept by
him. It runs thus :

" 'Battle of Westmoreland, July 3, 1778.

" 'Capitulation ye 4th.

" 'Prisoners obtained liberty to leave settlement ye 7th.'

' 'The account proceeds to the 25th when they arrived at
their former residence in Stonington, Conn."

It will be seen from this memoranda that at that time it
took eighteen days to go from the Wyoming valley to Con-
necticut.

Continuing his account of the Searle family, Mr. Pearce
says :

"Four of the name, to wit: Roger, William, Constant
and Miner Searle, were, forty-five years ago (in 1800), among
the most intelligent and influential citizens upon the Lacka-
wanna. But they all died in mid-life. Constant, who was in
the battle, died at Providence, August 4, 1804, aged forty-
five years. Their descendants retain or possess several of the
most valuable farms in old Westmoreland."

In Postmaster Searle' s time Nathaniel Cottrill kept a tav-

em on the site now occupied by the Bristol House, in Provi-
dence. Mr. Cottrill also kept a general store on the opposite
(southwest) corner of the street and the postmaster was once
a clerk in the latter establishment.

Voltaire Searle held the office of postmaster at Providence
between 1839-40.

JACOB R. BLOOM, SR.

Jacob R. Bloom, postmaster of Providence from 1840 to
1845, was born in Bennington, Vermont, November 14, 1802.
He first settled in Blakely, afterward resided in Dunmore, and
finally settled in Providence. There were only six houses in
the north end when he settled there. He was a wheel-wright
by trade, but was quite handy with all kinds of tools, and
built with his own hands the house in which he resided. In
the early forties he owned a hotel on North Main avenue and,
as a host, he was always noted for his kindness and hospi-
tality. He was quite liberal in his religious views and loved
his fellow man of every and no denomination. There was
nothing narrow or "small" about "Jake" Bloom. Although
a non-Catholic he donated to the Catholics a large plot of
land on which they built their church in Providence. He also
gave several lots to persons too poor to pay for them.

When Mr. Bloom was constable in Providence there was
as much, if not more, respect for persons and property as
when there was a whole squad of police there.

In politics Mr. Bloom was a pronounced Democrat and
would never, at any time, nor under any consideration, go
back on his principles. It was one of his boasts that he voted
for every Democratic nominee for president, from Andrew
Jackson, in 1828, to William Jennings Bryan, in 1896.

Mr. Bloom was three times the Democratic nominee for
sheriff of Luzerne county, but met with defeat each time.

He was possessed of considerable wealth but lost most of
it by assuming several financial obligations incurred by his
friends.

Mr. Bloom died at Providence, May 15, 1897. He was a
member of Hiram Lodge of Masons, organized in Providence
in 1852. He was twice married and was the father of seven-
teen children. His first wife was Clara La France. His sec-
ond wife was Miss Clara Wall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas Wall, of Benton township.

Five children survive Mr. Bloom. They are Caleb, of
St. Paul, Minn. ; Mrs. Ruth Clark, of California ; Mrs. C. P.
Grant, of Green Ridge ; Frank M. , of St. Louis, and Mrs.
Joseph R. Silkman, of Providence.

Jacob R. Bloom, Jr., one of the sons of the subject of our
sketch, was postmaster of Providence from 1867 to 1869. He
died in 1 87 1. A short biography of him appears elsewhere
in this book.

JOHN P. HARDING.

John P. Harding was postmaster of Providence for one
year (1845-46) under the administration of James Knox Polk.
Mr. Harding was an employe in "Nat" Cottrill's hotel at
"the corners," and was quite popular with all classes of the
community. His predecessor, J. R. Bloom, notwithstanding
that he was an ardent Democrat, and an appointee of Presi-
dent Martin Van Buren, managed to retain his office under
the administrations of Presidents William Henry Harrison and
John Tyler until 1845. John Silkman, one of the oldest
residents of Providence, says that at that time a dispute arose
between Mr. Cottrill and Mr. Bloom with the result that Mr.
Cottrill used his influence to have Mr. Bloom superseded by
Mr. Harding, and succeeded in displacing the latter as post-
master of Providence.

DAVID S. KOON.

David S. Koon was postmaster at Providence from 1846
to 1849 during the administration of President Polk. He was
of Knickerbocker Dutch origin. His father, Henry Koon, set-
tled in New York state and was a soldier in the war of 181 2.

David S. was born in Dutchess county, September 9, 181 8.
He received a common school education and graduated in a
printing office at Carbondale, Pa. He read law in the office
of D. K. Lathrope, of Carbondale, and was admitted to the
bar January 5, 1848. He practiced at Carbondale, Provi-
dence and Pittston. He was appointed cargo inspector of the
North Branch Canal and had his office at Beech Haven for
about a year. That was about 1853. He was afterward
appointed collector of canal tolls, at Pittston, Pa., and held
this office for four years.

Mr. Koon was elected to the House of Representatives of
Pennsylvania in 1866, and in 1867 he was appointed deputy
revenue assessor under President Johnson. He at different
times held several township and borough offices. He was
married in January, 1849, to Eliza A., daughter of Amasa
Hollister, of Kingston township. He died a few years ago at
Wilkes- Barre, Pa.

HENRY REICHARD.

Henry Reichard, postmaster of Providence between 1849
and 1 85 1, was born at Easton, Pa., in 18 14. He was a tailor
by trade. His wife was Catherine Ackerly, daughter of John
and Elizabeth Ackerly, of Abington township. Mr. Reich-
ard took quite an active interest in politics. In his time it
was customary to have vocal as well as instrumental music at
political gatherings and he frequently sang for the delectation
of the multitude.

I. A. Reichard, one of Postmaster Reichard' s sons, holds
an important position in the coal department of the Delaware
& Hudson Company at Scranton, and another son, N. L.
Reichard, is an employe of the Ontario & Western Railroad
at Carbondale.

CHARLES TOWNSEND ATWATER.

Charles Townsend Atwater was appointed postmaster of
Providence in 1851, and died the following year. His widow,

Elizabeth, finished the unexpired term of his postmastership

(1852-54).

Postmaster Atwater was born in New Haven, Conn.,
March 2, 181 3. He was educated in the public schools in
that city. In the early twenties he came with his father,
Heaton Atwater, to Mount Pleasant, Wayne county. The
latter gentleman moved to Hyde Park about the year 1830
and, for a time, was proprietor of the White hotel. He died
in Hyde Park in 1832.

On October 24, 1834, Postmaster Atwater was married to
Elizabeth Snyder and went to Mount Pleasant where he
remained a year. He then returned to Providence and
shortly thereafter went into the mercantile business in that
place and at Dunmore. He resided at Providence and died
there October 22, 1853.

Postmaster Atwater had eight children — three sons and
five daughters. His oldest son, H. H. Atwater, was for
forty years cashier of the First National Bank at Patchuna
and died there August 10, 1897. Charles, the second son,
now resides in Scranton, and William, the third son, in West
Pittston. Postmaster Atwater' s daughter, Miss Ellen, was
married on November 25, 1854, to Charles Law, one of
West Pittston' s most prominent and respected citizens. The
couple still reside there. Miss Elizabeth was married to
Solon Woodward and lives at Carbondale. The three other
daughters were also married. They were Mrs. Angelina M.
Gurney, of Vestal, N.Y. , deceased ; Mrs. Mary C. Ryman, of
Dallas, Pa., deceased, and Mrs. Frances Woodward, of Wil-
low Springs, Mo.

Postmaster Atwater was a lineal descendant of David
Atwater, who emigrated from the South of England, and
settled in New Haven, Conn., in 1638. David died in that
city October 5, 1692. One of the ancestors of the subject of
our sketch was killed in a battle with the British at Cornpo

?»o

Hill, April 28, 1777. Postmaster Atvvater was a man of sterl-
ing honesty and was beloved and respected by all his neigh-
bors, irrespective of their class, creed or nationality.

SYLVANUS EASTABROOKS.

Sylvanus Eastabrooks, postmaster of Providence in the
year 1854, was born at Wysox, Pa., in February, 1818. He
learned the wheel-wright trade at Troy, Pa. , and was married
at that place. He moved to Providence and conducted a
wagon shop in all its departments until 1841, part of the
time individually and part of the time as a partner in the
firm of Eastabrooks & Barton, and later he was in partner-
ship with Mr. Bell. He moved to Towanda, Pa., in 1864,
and engaged in the mercantile business for a few years.
From Towanda he went to Elmira, and was in the service of
the Northern Central Railroad Company until 1882, when he
died. Mr. Eastabrooks was a member of the first board of
school directors of Providence borough.

W. N. Eastabrooks, a son of the deceased postmaster,
lives at Elmira, N. Y. He is the vice-president and general
manager of the New York and Pennsylvania Telephone and
Telegraph Company.

DR. HORACE HOLLISTER.

Dr. Horace H. Hollister succeeded Sylvanus Eastabrooks
in 1854 as postmaster of Providence, and held the office until
1 86 1. He was a man of considerable literary ability and the
writer of some historical works dealing with matters in the
Lackawanna valley. He was one of the most skillful physi-
cians in the country and had a large practice. He was of a
kind, genial disposition and his greatest delight was to go
about doing good.

Dr. Hollister was born in Salem, Wayne county, Pa.,
November 2, 1822. He was raised on his father's farm. He
received a common school education at his home and was a
pupil in academies at Bethany and Honesdale between 1840

and 1843. During the summer months of 1837 and 1838 he
was engaged in transporting general merchandise on the
North Branch canal, the Union canal and Schuylkill canal
from Philadelphia to Wilkes-Barre, and was then known as
Captain Hollister. He afterward studied medicine with Dr.
Charles Burr, of Salem, with Dr. Ebenezer T. Losey, of
Honesdale, and with Dr. Benjamin Throop, then of Provi-
dence. He graduated from the University of the City of New
York in March, 1846, and immediately began the practice of
his profession at Providence, Pa. Among his literary works
are "History of the Lackawanna Valley," "Coal Notes,"
"History of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company," and
"Recollections of Our Physicians." He also wrote several
interesting magazine and newspaper articles. He died in
Scranton, December 29, 1893.

Dr. Hollister' s collection of Indian stone relics is acknowl-
edged to be the largest and most complete of its kind in the
world. The collection comprises 20,000 pieces of stone,
burned clay, bone and copper, each piece representing every
kind of weapon used by the savages of North America. The
collection is valued at $10,000. Efforts have been made from
time to time by the Smithsonian Institution at Washington,
D. C. , to obtain this fine collection, but the doctor refused
to part with it, and it is still on exhibition at his late residence
on North Main avenue, Providence.

Dr. Hollister was a member of several historical societies.
His talented and gracious sister, "Stella of Lackawanna"
(Mrs. Harriet G. Watres), is a poetess whose many tender
and beautiful compositions have delighted thousands of peo-
ple. Dr. Hollister' s nephew, Dr. P. G. Goodrich, is the
author of the "History of Wayne County, Pa."

BENJAMIN P. COUCH.

Benjamin P. Couch, postmaster of Providence from 1861
to 1867, was born in Connecticut in 1822, and came at an

early age to Pennsylvania, settling first at Uniondale. Shortly
after his arrival there he was joined in marriage to Miss
Catherine Hice. One son, George D. , was born to them
June 19, 1848.

The family moved from Uniondale to Providence in 1853
and Mr. Couch became a partner in business with Sweet
Gardner.

George D. Couch, the postmaster's son, was educated at
the public schools in Providence and afterward took a short
commercial course in the Wyoming Seminary. He entered
the Second National Bank of Scranton at the age of eighteen
and remained with that institution for a year, after which he
went to Carbondale and was engaged for twenty-six years as
teller in the First National Bank there. He also conducted
an extensive insurance business. Mr. Couch was married to
Miss Lydia J. Clark, daughter of Stephen S. and Jane (Jor-
dan) Clark, July 8, 1873. Four children, three of whom sur-
vive, were born to them. The latter are George Franklin,
Helen and Fred. Mr. Couch died June 19, 1894. His
widow, assisted by her eldest son, George, still conduct the
insurance business started by Mr. Couch at Carbondale.
Postmaster Benjamin Couch died May 1, 1874.

JACOB R. BLOOM, JR.

Jacob R. Bloom, Jr., was postmaster at Providence from
1867 to 1869. He was a son of Postmaster Jacob R. Bloom,
Sr. He was born in 1843. He was a carpenter by trade.
His wife was Miss Marion Burnham, a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Hezekiah Burnham. She is now the principal of the
public school in Park Place. Mr. Bloom died November 20,
1 87 1. At the time of his death he was weigh-master and
telegraph operator for the Delaware & Hudson Company at
the Cayuga shaft.

DR. HENRY ROBERTS.

Dr. Henry Roberts was postmaster of Providence from
1869 until 1883, when the office there was abolished and

merged into that of Scranton. He was born June 14, 1821,
in the township of Eaton, Wyoming county, Pa. His father
was the Hon. Henry Roberts, for many years associate judge,
justice of the peace, and one of the commissioners of old
Luzerne county.

Dr. Roberts took up his residence in Providence in 1850,
when it was a small village, and when the land now compris-
ing Scranton was almost an uninhabited swamp. He received
a common school education. He entered Jefferson Medical
College, Philadelphia, in May, 1843, and graduated in 1845.
He married in 1848, Lucetta Hartley, daughter of Judge
William Hartley, of Susquehanna county. Six children were
born to them. One of the daughters was the wife of the late
Dr. Furman B. Gulick, of Scranton, Dr. Roberts practiced
medicine for five years at Laceyville, Wyoming county, and
in May, 1850, took up his residence in Providence He was
a member of an expedition that set out in 1859 to explore the
country west of the Missouri ; he was accidentally shot by
the discharge of a gun in the hands of a companion, July,
1859, and lost the use of his right arm ; he removed to Salt
Lake City and was the guest of Brigham Young's family phy-
sician ; he travelled through California ; returned to Provi-
dence in 1 86 1 and resumed the practice of medicine.

In 1863 Dr. Roberts enrolled a full company of men in
less than twenty-four hours and accompanied them to Camp
Curtin at Harrisburg where he organized the Thirtieth Regi-
ment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, with W. N. Monies as
their colonel, and served with it as volunteer surgeon until
the discharge of the regiment.

In 1864 he was commissioned by President Lincoln,
examining surgeon for claimants for pensions and held that
office for years. In 1866 he was elected a member of the
select council of the newly formed city of Scranton and was
re-elected to that office for nine years.

Dr. Roberts is of Whig stock and when the Republican
party came into existence he became one of its staunchest
supporters. He was a candidate for Congress from the
Twelfth District of Pennsylvania in 1878 and not only secured
his full party vote, but drew largely from the ranks of the
Democrats. Dr. Roberts is a man of refinement and culture
and has a winning manner. He is the soul of honor and is
intelligent, amiable and wise.

JOHN W. MOORE.

John Wildrick Moore was appointed postmaster of Scran-
tonia in 1850, and held the office for nearly three years. His
successor was Joel Amsden who was postmaster for only two
or three months in 1853.

Postmaster John W. Moore was born in Hardwick, N. J.,
September 28, 1809, and was married to Miss Edna Laing, of
his native place. At an early age he went to Belvidere, N.
J., and spent some years there. In 1846 he came to what is
now Scranton, and opened his tailor shop in the Hollow here.
He had four sons — Martin, Austin, Sylvester and Eugene.
Austin died in 1894. The other sons are now living in New
Jersey. M. G. Moore, son of Austin Moore and grand-
son of Postmaster Moore, holds a responsible and lucrative
position with the Cambria Steel Company, at Johnstown, Pa.

Postmaster Moore was for many years chief clerk in the
grocery department of the Lackawanna Coal & Iron Com-
pany's store in Scranton.

During Mr. Moore's postmastership the name of the post-
office was changed from Scran tonia to Scranton (January 27,
1 851). Postmaster Moore died in 1882.

MAJOR JOEL AMSDEN.

Major Joel Amsden, who, for a couple of months in 1853,
was John W. Moore's successor as postmaster of Scranton,
was born in Hartland, Vt. , September 5, 181 2, and was the
son of Joseph and Jerusha Brown Amsden. In 1834 he grad-

uated from the Norwich University — a military academy
founded at Norwich, Vt. , in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge,
a graduate of West Point in 1806. His first employment was
with what is now the New York, Lake Erie & Western Rail-
road. From 1838 to 1846 he was the resident engineer of
Erie and Black River canals with headquarters at Booneville
and afterward at Rome, N. Y. He then spent three years
practicing his profession in Boston, Mass., and afterward
located at Easton, Pa., where he was called to remodel the
Glendon Iron Works at that place. At the solicitation of
Colonel George W. Scranton he came to Scranton in 1850,
and became connected with the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Co.

Major Amsden laid out for the company the plot for the
borough of Scranton, and drew plans for St. Peter's Cathe-
dral. He was the resident engineer of the Northern and
Southern Division of the D. L. & W. R. R. at Scranton, and
subsequently chief engineer. From 1857 to the time of his
death in 1868 he practiced his profession of architect and
engineer in Scranton.

During Mr. Amsden' s residence in Rome, N. Y. , he was
commissioned as brigade inspector, with the rank of major, of
the Fifth Brigade of Artillery of New York State. He was a
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Major Amsden was married at Booneville in 1838, to
Anna Theresa Power, daughter of Nicholas Power, who
belonged to a distinguished Waterford and Tipperary Irish
family of that name. Mrs. Amsden survived her husband
about fourteen years. Five children were born of the mar-
riage : Frank P., a student of the Norwich University; Fred.
J., Lieut. Signal Corps, U. S., Brevet Captain and now an
architect and highly esteemed and respected resident of
Scranton ; Anna L. , Charles J. and Victoria A. Admiral
George Dewey was a graduate of Norwich University, from
which Major Amsden graduated, and it has been the alma

36 •

mater for such distinguished men as Gideon Wells and Ex-
Governor Horatio Seymour, of New York, and General G.
M. Dodge.

Captain Frank P. Amsden, above referred to, was com-
missioned First Lieutenant, Battery H, First Pennsylvania
Volunteer Light Artillery, August i, 1861. In the spring of
1862 he was detailed on recruiting service and placed in
charge of Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Pa. He was afterward
made Acting Adjutant and Quartermaster of the Artillery
Battalion, First Division, Fourth Corps, Army of the Poto-
mac. Just prior to the Peninsular Campaign, Mr. Amsden
was transferred to Battery G, Seymour's Division, Fifth
Corps, Army of the Potomac. He was in the battles of
Mechanicsville, Kings Mills, Charles Street Cross Roads and
Malvern Hill.

At Kings Mills, Captain Kern was wounded and Lieuten-
ant Amsden was put in command. Two of the six guns of
the Battery were lost.

At the second battle of Bull Run Captain Kern was killed
and the remainder of the battery, except two caissons, were
lost.

Lieutenant Amsden was then ordered to Washington and
commissioned captain. He reorganized the battery and was
assigned to duty with Artillery Brigade, Third Division, First
Corps, Army of the Potomac. He was engaged in the battle
of Fredricksburg, December 13, 1862, where his horse was
shot under him. He served in Burnside's second campaign at
Chancellorsville. Captain Amsden resigned May 25, 1863,
on account of disabilities contracted in the service.

DR. BENJAMIN H. THROOP.

Dr. Benjamin H. Throop, postmaster of Scranton between
1853 and 1857, was born in Oxford, Chenango county, N.
Y., November 9, 1811. He received his earlier education in
the old Oxford Academy where he had as classmates Hon.

Horatio Seymour, Hon. Ward Hunt and other distinguished
men. He graduated in medicine at the Fairfield Medical
College.

Dr. Throop first practiced medicine at Honesdale, Pa.,
and rose rapidly to a high position in his profession. He
removed to Oswego, N. Y. , in 1835 and spent nearly a year
there. He then went to New York city and practiced his
profession until 1840 and returning to Pennsylvania the same
year he settled at Providence, October 8. He soon after
married a sister of the wife of Sanford Grant, a gentleman
connected with G. W. and Selden T. Scranton in the pur-
chase of Slocum Hollow. Of the five children born to Dr.
and Mrs. Throop only one, Mrs. H. B. Phelps, survives.
His son, Dr. George S. Throop, was a well known and popu-
lar young physician, although he did not practice his profes-
sion to any great extent. He died in 1894.

Dr. Throop removed to Scranton in 1845. In 1853 he
purchased valuable tracts of coal land, and when the opening
of the D. L. & W. R. R. established direct communication
with New York, the value of these tracts was very much
enhanced. By leasing some of these valuable properties he
soon began to acquire wealth, and to extend his operations.
He organized many companies, laid out the village of Price in
Blakely township and sold land to the early settlers in that
place. He took a prominent part in the movement for the
creation of Lackawanna county.

He was one of the first physicians of old Luzerne county
to respond to the call for volunteers in 1861. He was com-
missioned surgeon of the Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers,
April 23, 1 86 1, and immediately thereafter established the
first field hospital. After the battle of Antietam the doctor
did duty for several weeks as a volunteer surgeon and estab-
lished the Smoketown field hospital in a forest. All the seri-
ously wounded were taken there from the other field hospitals

and treated. Dr. Throop remained with the army till it went
to Harper's Ferry. The hard work and exposure he had
been subjected to began to tell on his hitherto splendid phy-
sique. He suffered from a severe attack of typhoid fever and
was reluctantly compelled to abandon his army duties. On
his return home his business engagements required so much
of his time and attention that he was obliged to give up
almost altogether the practice of medicine.

Postmaster Throop was one of the originators of the
Scranton Gas & Water Company. He organized the first
milk route in the city and established the first drug store here.
He contributed to the support of St. Luke's Church of which
he was a member. He also donated money to churches of
other denominations. He was prominent in the establish-
ment of the first lodge of Odd Fellows in Scranton. He was
one of the incorporators and a member of the first board of
directors of the Lackawanna Hospital. His daughter, Mrs.
Horace B. Phelphs, built the Throop Memorial attached to
the St. Luke's Episcopal Church at a cost of $30,000. It is
one of the finest institutions of its kind in the county.

LATON S. FULLER.

Laton S. Fuller, postmaster of Scranton between 1857 and
1 86 1, was born on a farm in the Wyoming valley, May 2,
1824, and continued to reside there till he was twenty-five
years of age. He was educated in the public schools. He
was a druggist by profession and conducted a drug store in
Scranton until 1886, when he retired. In 1891 he built a
handsome residence at Elmhurst and resided there till shortly
before his death. The parents of Mr. Fuller were Charles
and Maria (Scovell) Fuller, natives respectively of Connecti-
cut and the Wyoming valley. Both of them died at an
advanced age. They had nine children, the following of
whom survive : Mary L. , and Mrs. C. E. Brown, both of
whom reside at Binghamton, N. Y. , and Francis M.

Postmaster Fuller kept the postofnce in his drug store in
this city, on Lackawanna avenue near Penn avenue. He
began business with a very small capital but managed by his
ability and industry to accumulate a modest fortune. He was
a Democrat in politics.

DOUGLAS H. JAY.

Douglas H. Jay, postmaster of Scranton from 1861 to
1864, is the son of Nelson and Sydney (Hiles) Jay. He was
born in Belvidere, Warren county, N. J., December 19, 1830,
and educated in the schools there. He came to Scranton
with Colonel Scranton in 1847.

Mr. Jay remained with Colonel Scranton for some time and
then served as mail agent under President Pierce on the
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western R. R. He was appointed
postmaster in 1861 by President Lincoln, but resigned in 1864
to join the army. He was enrolled as a member of Company
G, One Hundred and Eighty-Seventh Pennsylvania Infantry,
and during his service he was detailed as clerk under Gen-
erals Couch, Cadwalder and Meade. He was mustered out
in 1865 and returned to Scranton to take a position in the
postofnce. After a few years he became bookkeeper for the
Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company and remained with it
until 1890.

Mr. Jay served as member of the poor board for six years
and during his time the Hillside Home was started. He was
at one time connected with the Odd Fellows and is a mem-
ber of the Masonic fraternity. His wife was Miss Elizabeth
Carling, and seven children were born to them. The children
are Ellen C. , wife of Attorney James H. Torrey ; Annie L. ,
wife of H. A. Connell, the well known jeweler ; William C. ,
foreman with the Pennsylvania Roofing Company ; George
G. , an electrician ; James Scranton, a clerk with the Colliery
Engineer Company ; Kate, Mrs. R. G. Jermyn, of Oswego,
N. Y. , and Joseph Nelson, at home.

A. HAMPTON COURSEN.

A. Hampton Coursen, postmaster of Scranton from March
8, 1864, to November 30, 1866, was born in Deckertown, N.
J., in 1832. He is a self-taught gentleman and a highly-
respected citizen. He came to Scranton when he was four-
teen years old, and was engaged as clerk for the Lacka-
wanna Iron & Coal Company for about three years. He
went to New York at the age of seventeen and was a clerk
for his uncle, G. H. Coursen, a wholesale grocer at 76
Cortlandt street. He remained in New York for three years
and then returned to Scranton, immediately thereafter going
to Buffalo, N. Y. , where he was employed in the coal office of
the D. L. & W. R. R. Co. Coming back to Scranton again
he was engaged in the same capacity. Then he returned to
work at the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company's store.
In 1857, when the financial panic came, the company decreed
that all unmarried men were to be discharged, and Mr. Cour-
sen was among the number that had to relinquish his position
with that corporation.

After quitting the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company,
Mr. Coursen was engaged as express messenger for A. D.
Hope on the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg road.

In i860 Mr. Coursen was appointed mail agent and was
engaged in that capacity until 1864, when he was appointed
postmaster by President Lincoln.

In 1866 President Johnston removed Mr. Coursen and
appointed Dr. W. H. Pier to fill his place. Mr. Coursen,
however, remained in the postoffice for nearly three years
afterward as Dr. Pier's deputy.

After leaving the postoffice, Mr. Coursen opened a grocery
store at 427 Lackawanna avenue where he did a large and
prosperous business for over twenty years. He now lives
in retirement with his family at No. 615 Mulberry street,
Scranton, Pa.

Mr. Coursen was twice married, his first wife, whom he
wedded in 1867, was Miss Anna M. Burr, of Northumberland,
Pa. Two children, Mary B. and Jessie S. , were born of the
marriage. Miss Jessie is married to B. E. Watson, secretary
of the Scranton Stove Works. Mr. Coursen' s second wife, to
whom he was married in 1874, was Miss Kate E. Wheatley,
of Northumberland, Pa.

DR. WILLIAM H. PIER.

Dr. William H. Pier, postmaster of Scranton from 1866 to
1869, was the only son of William and Caroline (Hathaway)
Pier. He was born in Warren, Warren county, Pa., in 1822;
received his diploma from the Chenango County Medical
Society in August, 1845, and opened an office in the October
following in Hyde Park.

Dr. Pier was three times married. His first wife was
Mary M. , daughter of Dr. Silas B. Robinson, of Hyde Park.
She died in 1853. His second wife was Frances D. Throop,
of Nineveh, N. Y. , a niece of the late Dr. Throop. She died
in 1 87 1. Dr. Walter B. Pier, of Duryea, and Dr. William F.
Pier, of Avoca, are children of this union. Dr. Pier's third
wife was Mrs. Coolbaugh (nee Sieger), of Dunmore.

Dr. Pier was elected prothonotary of old Luzerne county
in 1 86 1, and served in that office for four years. He was a
splendid specimen of true manhood, an honor to the people
and a credit to his profession. He was kind and generous to
a fault, and was at all times ready to do everything he could
to relieve human suffering in whatever form it appeared. He
was beloved by rich and poor alike.

Dr. Pier was of New England stock. His ancestors came
to America over one hundred and fifty years ago. He died
in 1898, at the home of his son, Dr. William F. Pier, in Avoca,
and was interred in the old Dunmore cemetery. His father
and mother, and his two first wives were also laid to rest in
this graveyard.

JAMES SCOVELL SLOCUM.

James Scovell Slocum, postmaster of Scranton from 1869
to 1874, was the son of Laton Slocum and Gratey (Scovell)
Slocum. He was born July 12, 1827, and was raised on a
farm in Exeter. He moved to Scranton in 1854. He was a
Republican in politics, and took an active part in the cam-
paign of 1856. He was part owner of the Scranton Repub-
lican. He was elected a member of the Republican State
Central Committee in i860, and attended the National Con-
vention in Chicago as a delegate from that body. He fur-
nished two men to do his share of the fighting in the late
Civil War, and, in 1862, went himself as a member of the
Thirteenth Pennsylvania Militia, under Colonel Johnson. In
1863 he was chairman of the Sanitary Commission at Scran-
ton, when over $6,000 was raised for the soldiers.

President Grant reappointed him postmaster in 1874, but
in a few weeks he resigned the office and went to live on his
farm at Exeter, where he was elected justice of the peace,
overseer of the poor and to other offices.

Postmaster James Slocum' s sister, Frances Carey Slocum,
was married to Colonel Richard A. Oakford, December 27,
1843. Three children were born to them — Laton S. , who
was accidentally killed in Virginia, Major James W. and Miss
Annie. The latter is married to W. O. Cox. At the break-
ing out of the Civil War, Colonel Oakford was acting justice
of the peace. As colonel of the Fifteenth Regiment, he went
out with the first body of three months men, and on his return
he raised the One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania
Volunteers, of which he was elected colonel. While gallantly
leading his men in the thickest of the fight he was killed at
Antietam, September 17, 1862.

Postmaster Slocum was killed by a Lehigh Valley train
near Exeter, April 19, 1897. His untimely death was sin-
cerely mourned by all classes of the community.

JOSEPH A. SCRANTON.

Joseph Augustine Scranton, postmaster of Scranton from
1874 to 1 88 1, is the only son of Joseph H. and Eliza Maria
(Wilcox) Scranton, and was born July 26, 1838, at Madison,
Conn. He graduated from Phillips Academy, at Andover,
Mass., in 1857. He then entered Yale College, but owing
to delicate health he was compelled to withdraw from that
institution during the freshman year.

On July 23, 1864, Mr. Scranton and Miss Ada Elizabeth,
eldest daughter of General A. N. Meylert, were united in mar-
riage. They have two children, Robert Meylert, born June
11, 1865, and Eliza, born July 20, 1868. Mrs. Scranton died
October 22, 1900.

Robert M. Scranton married Miss Helen L. Sperry, of
Hartford, Conn., November 19, 1890. They have had no
children. Mr. Scranton is engaged in partnership with his
father in the Republican establishment. Miss Eliza Scranton
was married to Captain Daniel L. Tate, of the United States
Army, on February 14, 1893. They have one child, Joseph
Scranton Tate, born December 18, 1894.

In 1862 President Lincoln appointed Mr. Scranton Inter-
nal Revenue Collector for the Twelfth Congressional District,
which then comprised the counties of Luzerne and Susque-
hanna. He served in that office until 1866.

In September, 1867, Mr. Scranton purchased an interest
in the Scranton Republican and founded the daily edition of
that paper in the following November. In March, 1869, he
assumed full ownership of the paper, and in 1871 he built the
fine and well appointed printing house on Wyoming avenue.
In April, 1888, the Republican was moved to the five-story
building on Washington avenue, built by Mr. Scranton for
the business, its growth demanding more commodius quar-
ters.

President Grant appointed Mr. Scranton postmaster of

Scranton April i, 1874, and he was reappointed by President
Hayes in 1878.

Mr. Scranton was the Republican candidate for Congress
for sixteen consecutive years. He was elected to the National
House of Representatives in 1880 from the Twelfth Congres-
sional District which then comprised parts of Luzerne and
Lackawanna counties. He was re-elected to the Forty-ninth,
Fifty-first, Fifty-third and Fifty-fourth Congresses. During
his first term in Congress he passed a bill authorizing the erec-
tion of a Federal buiding in Scranton. In his second term he
passed a bill securing sessions of the United States courts in
Scranton, and increased the appropriation for the Scranton
Federal building to $250,000. During his congressional
career he introduced and established the letter carrier system
in the cities of Scranton, Carbondale and Wilkes-Barre.

Mr. Scranton has been an active member of the Republican
party for over forty years. In 1872 he was a delegate to the
National Republican convention at Philadelphia, and in 1888
a delegate to the National Republican convention at Chicago ;
has frequently been delegate to the state and county conven-
tions of the party, and chairman of county committees, both in
Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. In November, 1900, he
was elected treasurer of Lackawanna county.

EDWARD CHARLES FULLER.

Edward Charles Fuller, postmaster of Scranton from 1881
to 1885, under the Garfield and Arthur administrations, was
born in Wyoming, Luzerne county, June 8, 1826. He was a
brother of Postmaster Laton S. Fuller. He was educated in
Wyoming Seminary. Having learned the rope-making trade,
he became salesman for his father in this section of the state.
After two years of this service he went to Baltimore, Md. ,
where he was clerk in Barnum's hotel, which was at that time
one of the principal hostelries at "the mouth of the South."
Returning from there to Scranton he studied pharmacy under

Dr. Benjamin Throop, and was later associated with the doc-
tor in the drug business. When this partnership was dis-
solved, Mr. Fuller went to Hawley, Pa. , and opened a drug
store there. He removed to Scranton in 1852 and resided in
the Electric city till the time of his death, which occurred on
January 25, 1894.

On his return from Hawley, Mr. Fuller opened a drug
store at 303 Lackawanna avenue, under the name of L. S. &
E. L. Fuller, and continued to do business at that stand for
four years.

In i860 Mr. Fuller was elected school controller, which
position he held for several years. He was treasurer of this
board for some time. In 1890 he was elected assistant
assessor, retiring in 1893, but remaining for a while in the
office as a clerk to the board. He was director and treasurer
of the Lackawanna Hospital, when that institution was estab-
lished. He was president of the Dunmore Cemetery Associa-
tion, and was also one of the charter members of the First
Presbyterian Church. He was a kind, genial and charitable
man, a splendid conversationalist and popular with all classes.
He took an active part in politics and was one of the leaders
of the Republican party.

On January 2, 1849, Mr. Fuller was married to Miss
Helen Ruthven, of Wyoming. The three surviving sons of
this marriage are : Charles R., Edward L. and James A.
Fuller. Mrs. Fuller died in 1893.

D. W. CONNOLLY.

D. W. Connolly, postmaster of Scranton between 1885
and 1889, was born at Cochecton, Sullivan county, N. Y. ,
April 24, 1847. His parents located in Hyde Park when he
was only two years of age, and he received his education in
the public schools of that borough. He was was bright and
studious and gave promise of making his mark in the world.
In his nineteenth year he entered the office of the Lacka-

wanna Herald, which was edited by the late E. S. M.
Hill, and was employed as a clerk and proof-reader. In 1872
he was the nominee of the "Labor Reform Party" for the
district attorneyship. Although he failed of election he
received very flattering Republican support, especially in his
own district where he received a large majority of that party's
vote. In 1878 he was nominated for president judge of
Lackawanna county by the Democratic and National Green-
back Labor parties, and received a larger vote than any other
candidate on the ticket. His opponent was Judge Benjamin
S. Bentley, of Williamsport. After the election the question
was brought before the Supreme court that no vacancy for a
president judge existed, and Mr. Connolly was therefore
unable to take his seat on the bench.

In 1882 Mr. Connolly was elected as a Democrat to the
Forty-eighth Congress, and at the expiration of his term he was
appointed postmaster by Grover Cleveland. He was an able
lawyer and a man of unimpeachable character, and was popu-
lar with all classes of citizens. Mr. Connolly's father was a
prominent railroad contractor. He married Miss Ann Adelia
Allyn, a daughter of Deacon Allyn, of Montgomery, Mass.,
whose father fought under General Washington in the War for
Independence. Miss Allyn' s grandmother was a Tyler and a
near relative of the president of the United States.

Postmaster Connolly died December 4, 1894.

D. M. JONES.

D. M. Jones, postmaster of Scranton from 1889 to 1893,
was born at Rhymney, Breconshire, Wales, June 26, 1839.
He came to America with his father in 1851. The family
went to Hyde Park in 1854. David worked as a boy in the
old Diamond mine, and later was apprenticed to the mould-
er's trade in the foundry of the D. L. & W. R. R. shops.
In 1858 he traveled in California and other western states,
where he was engaged in prospecting and mining. He

returned to Scranton via. the Isthmus of Panama, and in
1864 he was mustered into Company I, One Hundred and
Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, and was sent to his regi-
ment.

On April 2, the day on which Richmond and Petersburg
fell, he was serving as a corporal in the charge on Fort Gregg,
and was shot in the right thigh, receiving such a serious
wound that it was necessary to amputate his leg, the opera-
tion being performed on the field. He was honorably dis-
charged from the service, October 1, 1865. He was elected
alderman of the Fourth ward in May, 1876. In the fall of
that year he was elected to the legislature and served during
the sessions of 1877-78. He was appointed deputy city treas-
urer, under Reese T. Evans, in June, 1878, and succeeded
him in office by election in February, 1879. He served two
terms in that office. He was several times chairman of the
Republican county central committee and its treasurer in 1894.

President Benjamin Harrison appointed Mr. Jones post-
master of Scranton April 20, 1889, Mr. Jones being the first
postmaster appointed under that administration. He held the
office for four years and one month. Mr. Jones was an active
business man during all his life. He assisted in organizing
the Scranton & Pottsville Coal & Land Company, of which
he was secretary; aided in forming the Cambrian Mutual Fire
Insurance Company, in 187 1, and was treasurer of the concern
till his death ; was also treasurer of the Schuylkill Coal Com-
pany, and several other corporations.

Mr. Jones was for two years associate judge of the mayor's
court of Scranton. The passage of the bill creating Lacka-
wanna county was due, in a considerable degree, to his untir-
ing efforts and the efforts of his friends.

Mr. Jones was twice married. His first wife was Miss
Hannah Edwards, of Clifford, Susquehanna county. She
died in Scranton in December, 1871. Two children were

born of this marriage, but both of them are deceased. On
September 23, 1873, Mr. Jones married Miss Annie E. Wil-
liams, a daughter of James Williams, formerly a merchant of
Plymouth and now a resident of Nanticoke. Their children
are Edgar A., Helen E., Dorothy M. and Ethel H.

Comrade Jones attended several Grand Army encamp-
ments. He was a member of the Willie Jones Post, No. 199,
named in honor of his brother ; he was connected with the
Lieutenant Ezra Griffin Post, No. 139, in which he served as
quartermaster and trustee. He was a member of the Knights
of Pythias and was Past Chancellor of Hyde Park lodge, No.
306. He died October 25, 1896. Mr. Jones was a good and
patriotic citizen and the world is better for his having lived
in it.

FRANK M. VANDLING.

Frank M. Vandling, postmaster of Scranton from May 13,
1893, to 1897, was born at Harrisburg, Pa., October 29,
1865. He is the son of John and Mary (Jack) Vandling,
natives of Northumberland county and Harrisburg, respect-
ively. He attended the public schools at Harrisburg; learned
telegraphy and was appointed operator for the Delaware &
Hudson Company at Providence, Pa. Immediately thereafter
he was appointed weigh-master and coal inspector for the
same company at Moosic, and a year later, general coal
inspector for the Wilkes-Barre division of the road. He held
that position until 1893, when he was appointed postmaster
under Mr. Cleveland's second administration.

Mr. Vandling is married to Miss Helen Von Storch,
daughter of Theodore Von Storch. The couple have two
children, Theodore and Margaret. Mr. Vandling is a mem-
ber of Hiram lodge, F. & A. M. , and also of Melita Com-
mandery, K. T. , and the Consistory in Scranton. He is also
a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He
served for two years in the common council, to which body

he was elected when he was barely twenty-one years old. He
is a Democrat, but was elected from a Republican ward in
Providence.

He was a member of the Democratic county committee
from 1890 to 1893, and at different times its chairman, secre-
tary and treasurer. He was present at every state convention
of his party since he entered politics, and in 1892 was a dele-
gate to the National convention at Chicago that nominated
Grover Cleveland for a second term. He was president of the
Central Democratic Club in 1890. He was a member of the
state central Democratic committee that elected William F.
Harrity to succeed W. L. Scott as national committeeman.

WILLIAM MERRIFIELD.

The second postoffice established in the township of
Providence was at the village of Hyde Park, on July 14,
1832, and William Merrifield was appointed postmaster.
Shortly afterwards, having concluded to change his residence,
he resigned the office and his father, Robert Merrifield, was
appointed. The office was kept in a small building located at
the place on Main street where now stands the Masonic hall.
After an absence of about one year he returned to Hyde Park
and was reappointed under date of June 16, 1834. He
removed the office to his store house, a short distance north-
erly on Main street, and continued postmaster for about nine
years. The old building, recently remodeled, still remains.
On April 20, 1867, he was again appointed postmaster of Hyde
Park by President Johnson. This appointment came wholly
unsolicited and without his knowledge, having been made
through the instrumentality of United States Senator Charles
R. Buckalew. He erected a small building on the very spot
where the postoffice had first been established and continued
to hold the office for about two years, with his son, William,
as chief deputy.

He was the second son of Robert Merrifield, whose bio-

graphical sketch follows. He was born in Dutchess county,
New York, April 22, 1806. A few years after he had come to
Providence township, in 18 19, he engaged in teaching school,
and was thus employed at Wyoming, Pa., when he made the
acquaintance of Almira Swetland, whom he married on
April 14, 1831. He entered into the mercantile business
at Hyde Park, but through the solicitation of his brother-in-
law, William Swetland, went to Centremoreland and opened
a store. Here he was appointed postmaster. He returned
to Hyde Park in about one year, where he continued the mer-
cantile business, with the exception of occasional intervals, for
more than forty years.

In 1842 he was elected a member of the house of represen-
tatives of Pennsylvania from Luzerne county. He was re-el-
ected in 1843 and in 1844. The main issue at the time was
the erection of the new county of Lackawanna. At the ses-
sion of 1843, it was passed through the house and only
defeated in the senate by a tie vote.

October 14, 1856, he was elected an associate judge of
Luzerne county, which office he held for the term of five
years. April 5, 1867, he was appointed one of the council
for Hyde Park borough, and at different times served as
school director. June 16, 1869, he was appointed mayor of
Scranton in place of E. S. M. Hill, resigned, but refused to
take upon himself the duties of the office. In Aguust, 1870,
he was elected president of the Hyde Park Bank, holding the
position until his death. During his administration the institu-
tion had the confidence of the public and was prosperous.

In 1838 he, with William Rickeson and Zeno Albro,
became the purchasers from the Slocum heirs of five hundred
and three acres of land which now comprises the very heart of
the business portion of the city of Scranton. They imme-
diately set to work, by correspondence and otherwise, to call
attention to the mineral wealth of this section and the advan-

tages of the locality for manufacturing purposes ; and in 1840
made a sale thereof to the Scrantons and Grant.

He died at his home in Hyde Park on June 4, 1877. He
was a man of learning and ability and the esteem in which he
was held by the community, was attested by the closing of
the business places in Hyde Park on the day of his burial.
He was the father of six children, all having died, with the
exception of Edward Merrifield, the well known lawyer of
Wyoming avenue.

Following is a copy of William Merrifield' s first commis-
sion as postmaster :

POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT,

~ _ Washington, 14th July, 1832.

I have concluded to establish a postoffice, by the name of
Hyde Park, in the county of Luzerne and state of Pennsyl-
vania, and to appoint you postmaster thereof, in which
capacity you will be authorized to act, upon complying with
the following requirements :

1st. To execute the enclosed bond, and cause it to be
executed by two sufficient sureties, in the presence of suitable
witnesses, and the sufficiency of the sureties to be certified by
a qualified magistrate.

2nd. To take and subscribe the oath or affirmation of
office enclosed, before a magistrate, who will certify the same.

3rd. To exhibit your bond and qualification duly exe-
cuted, taken and certified as aforesaid, to the postmaster of
Pittston, and then to deposit them in the mail, addressed to
this department, office of appointments.

You are then entitled to enter on the duties of the office.

A packet, containing a mail key, blanks, laws and regula-
tions of the department, and a table of postoffices, is trans-
mitted to you, addressed to the care of the postmaster of
Pittston, Luzerne county, Pa.

After the receipt, at this department, of your bond and
qualifications, duly executed, taken and certified, and after
my approval of the sufficiency of the same, a commission will
be sent to you.

This letter will be your authority for calling on the mail
carrier to supply your office with mail.

It will be your duty to continue in the charge of the office,
personally or by assistant, till you are relieved from it by the
consent of the department, which will be signified by the dis-
continuance of your office or appointment of your successor.

The quarters expire on the 31st of March, 30th of June,
30th September, and 31st December. Accounts must be
rendered for each quarter.

Postmasters are unauthorized to give credit for postage.
Want of funds, therefore, is no excuse for failure of payment.

Payments to the department must be punctually made, if
called for by drafts, whenever the draft is presented.

If deposits are ordered, they should be made within ten
days after the termination of the quarter, unless required to
be made sooner.

No postmaster must change the name by which his office
is designated on the books of the department, without my
order therefor previously given.

Be careful, in mailing letters, to postmark each one, in all
cases, with the name of your office and state ; and in all com-
munications to the department, to embrace, in the date, the
name of your postoffice, county (or district) and state.

Special attention to the foregoing instructions, and a care-
ful perusal of, and frequent reference to, the law and general
instructions, are expected of you and your assistants.
I am respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. T. Barry,

by J. N. Hobbie,
To William Merrifield, Esq., Ass't P. M. Gen'l.

Hyde Park, Pa.

ROBERT MERRIFIELD.

The second postmaster of Hyde Park was Robert Merri-
field, whose commission is dated August 9, 1832. The
location of the office was not changed. He remained post-
master until 1834, when he resigned, and William Merrifield
was reappointed.

Robert Merrifield was born in Columbia county, New
York, on November 16, 1778; was married to Catherine
Welsey, February 12, 1804, by whom he had five children.
In 18 19 he moved with his family to Pennsylvania, settling
upon lands in the immediate vicinity of what subsequently
became Hyde Park village. In due time he became the
occupant of the place owned by Rev. William Bishop, the
pioneer preacher of this region, and the first settler on the
church lands in Providence township which had been set
apart by the Susquehanna Land Company for religious pur-
poses. Here he was principally engaged in cultivating the
farm of his son William. He died December 29, 1864,
beloved as a good citizen and universally respected for his
unflinching integrity.

His father was William Merrifield, born in Rhode Island
in 1752. From there he went to Dutchess county, New
York. In this and the adjoining county of Columbia he fol-
lowed the occupation of a school teacher. He died in 1836.

His father, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was
Robert Merrifield, born in Devonshire, England, in 1703. He
was at one time an officer in the British Navy.

He emigrated to Rhode Island about 1740, and subse-
quently went with his family to Dutchess county, New York,
where he died in 1800.

JOSEPH GRIFFIN.

Joseph Griffin was the third postmaster appointed at Hyde
Park. His appointment occurred during the administration
of John Tyler in the year 1843. Mr. Griffin was postmaster

until 1846 when he was succeeded by O. P. Clarke. He
moved the office from the village proper down to the store of
William Blackman at Fellow's corners and held it about two
years. Mr. Blackman, whose wife was a niece of Mr. Griffin,
had almost the entire charge.

Joseph Griffin was born in Westchester county, New
York, just prior to the year 1800. He was one of five
brothers who came to Providence township, Stephen,
Thomas, James, Isaac and Joseph. The latter came in 18 16,
and shortly purchased from a William Taylor a large farm at
the lower end of the city, which included what is known as
the round woods. He was at one time a justice of the peace of
Providence township. In 1839 he was elected to the state
legislature, serving one term. He was a man of intelligence
and filled the various offices to the satisfaction of the public.
His children were Henry, Joseph, Buriah, Adam, Mary, John,
Elizabeth and Annie. During his life Henry was quite prom-
inent in this city. He was one of the originators of the Hill-
side Home for the Poor and occupied various public positions.
They are all dead, with the exception of Buriah, now in the
eighties, and living with his son on Market street, in this city.

OLIVER P. CLARKE.

Oliver P. Clarke, postmaster at Hyde Park from 1846 to
1857, was born in Wurtsboro, Ulster county, N. Y. , in 18 18.
His parents were from Connecticut. At an early age he be-
came a clerk in Honesdale, Pa. From there he went to
Waymart and engaged in mercantile business. He came to
Hyde Park in 1845 and entered into partnership with William
Blackman, whose store was at Luzerne street and South Main
avenue. In 1848 he moved to what is now 120 South
Main avenue. He retired from business in 1871 and died at
his home in 1889, aged seventy-two years. In politics he
was a Republican. He was a public spirited citizen and was
highly esteemed by everybody.

Mr. Clarke's wife was Miss Sarah A. Barton, of Washing-
ton, N. J. She died in Scranton in 1886. Seven children,
four of whom are living, were born to them. Edwin A. is
treasurer and manager of the Clarke Store Company of
Scranton, and secretary, treasurer and manager of the West
Ridge Coal Company. He received his education in the
public schools and at the Claverack College, near Hudson,
N. Y. Like his worthy father, he takes a deep interest in all
that concerns the welfare of the city, and is quite popular
with the whole community. He married Miss Kate A.
Tanner, daughter of Alonzo Tanner, of Prompton, Wayne
county, who for many years was connected with the Delaware
& Hudson Railroad & Canal Company. They have two
sons, Fred. A. and Edwin H. They are bright and prom-
ising boys whose education is being carefully attended to.

DR. SILAS M. WHEELER.

Dr. Silas M. Wheeler was postmaster of Hyde Park from
1857 to 1861, under the administration of James Buchanan.
Dr. Wheeler located the office at the store of R. W. Luce,
immediately opposite Price street, and made him the deputy.
He was succeeded as postmaster by Joseph Turvey Fellows,
who was appointed during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln.

Dr. Wheeler was born in Delaware county, New York,
October 3, 18 16. He received an academic education, read
medicine and graduated at the University of New York. On
March 20, 1849, he was married to Sarah G. Russell, of
Windham, Bradford county, Pa., who is now residing with her
daughter in Scranton.

Early in his professional career the doctor located at
Hyde Park, where he became eminent as a skillful prac-
titioner. He was a man of decided ability. In politics he
was democratic, and devoted considerable of his time thereto,
at one time holding the position of editor of the Herald of the
Union. In the early sixties he moved to Waverly, Pa.,

where he devoted his entire time to his profession. He died
there on April i, 1876. He was a man of sterling character
and honesty.

JOSEPH TURVEY FELLOWS.

Joseph Turvey Fellows was appointed postmaster of Hyde
Park by President Lincoln in 1861, and served until 1866.
Mr. Fellows' deputies were Fred. W. Mason, his son-in-law,
and Orrin Frink.

Postmaster Fellows was born August 30, 18 13, on the old
homestead known as Fellows' Corners. He was educated in
the public schools. He was married about the year 1830 to
Marilla Pettibone, sister of the late Payne Pettibone, of
Wyoming. The couple had several children of whom the fol-
lowing survive : Mrs. F. W. Mason, Mrs. S. B. Mott, Mrs.
Caroline P. Fenner (of Ashley, Pa.), Mrs. Martha Heiser,
Mrs. Frances Edwards, and one son, Edward Allen Fellows.
The postmaster was the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Fel-
lows. Benjamin was the son of Joseph, Sr. , who with his
entire family emigrated from England to America, coming
over here in the good ship "Fair America." He was born in
1755 in the city of Worcester, England, and was married to
Catherine Turvey on July 3, 1776, in the town of Dudley,
Worcestershire. The following children were the result of
the union: Joseph, born at Redditch, England, July 2, 1782,
Elizabeth, born February 9, 1784 (married Ephriam Leech
in this country); Nancy, born April 5, 1786 (married Zeph-
aniah Knapp) ; Mary, born August 10, 1789, in the city of
Worcester (married Philip Heermans) ; Benjamin, father
of Postmaster Joseph Turvey Fellows, born September 21,
1 79 1, in the city of Worcester (married Elizabeth La-
France) ; Lydia May, born May 23, 1793, at Worcester
(married Benjamin Brown); Henry Tread well, born at sea,
September 25, 1794 (married Jerusha Griffin, daughter o
Stephen Griffin) ; Sylvanus, born in Providence in 1798

(married Maria Griffin, sister of Jerusha) ; Catherine, born in
1800 in Providence (married Dr. Hill, of Genesee, N. Y.,
who was a graduate of Oxford University, England). On the
death of Catherine, his first wife, in 18 14, Dr. Hill married
Margaret Simrell, of Scott township, who bore him two
children — Artemesia, born in 18 19, and Alfred, born April 30,
1 82 1. Both of them went west and settled there.

John Fellows, a brother of Postmaster Joseph Turvey, was
the father of Mayor John Fellows and of Horatio, who has
held some public offices in the city of Scranton.

Eugene Fellows, secretary of the school board of the city
of Scranton, is a son of Joseph Fellows, who is a grandson of
the Joseph Fellows first mentioned.

DR. AUGUSTUS DAVIS.

Dr. Augustus Davis, postmaster of Hyde Park from 1866
to 1867, was born in Jaffrey, N. H., December 4, 1827. He
was married to Miss Marietta Muzzy, at Jamaica, Vt. , Decem-
ber 6, 1848. Three children were born of this union —
J. Alton Davis, the well-known Scranton lawyer, who died
November 19, 1897; Edward Allen Davis, who died July 15,
1872; and Fred. Whitney Davis, who is now a practicing
physician and surgeon in East Orange, N. J. The late post-
master served for nine months as an assistant surgeon of the
One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer In-
fantry. He was a good and patriotic citizen, and popular
with everybody.

Mrs. M. M. Davis, the postmaster's widow, survives him.
Dr. Sumner D. Davis, a nephew of the late doctor, and who
was his deputy in the Hyde Park postoffice, is also a medical
gentleman. He was postmaster of Jermyn, Pa., from 1871 to
1 88 1 and from 1885 to 1889. He still resides in that town.

MAJOR M. L. BLAIR.

Major M. L. Blair, postmaster of Hyde Park from 1869 to

1873. was born in Madison county, New York, January 18,
1836. He is the son of Alvan and Vernera (Brooks) Blair.
Major Blair is of Scotch-Irish origin. His father, Alvan,
served in the war of 181 2 and took part in the battle of Sack-
ett's Harbor. He was a well-to-do farmer. In politics he
was a Republican. He died in 1882, and his wife Vernera
(Brooks) died about the same time in her native town, Pow-
nal, Vt.

Major Blair was educated in the schools of his native dis-
trict and at the Cazenovia Seminary. He taught school in
Madison county, New York, and in 1858 went to Hick's
Ferry, near Wilkes-Barre, where he was also engaged in
teaching. He came to Hyde Park in 1859 and opened a
school at Tripp's crossing. He then embarked in the grocery
and provision business, with W. H. Freeman as his partner.

Major Blair has a splendid army record. In 1862 he was
commissioned a second lieutenant by the governor of the
state, and he recruited a company, known as Company E,
which was the nucleus of what afterward became the famous
One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Infantry. The
regiment was mustered in in August, 1862, at Camp Luzerne.
Mr. Blair being elected captain. After being in camp for six
weeks the One Hundred and Forty-third went to the front
and fought gallantly in several battles, among them the fol-
lowing : Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rap-
pahannock, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River,
Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldron Railroad and Hatcher"
Run. Captain Blair's company was in the thickest and
bloodiest part of the fight on the first day at Gettysburg
and was nearly annihilated. Out of sixty-nine men that
went into the fray in the morning only eleven escaped from
being either killed, wounded or captured. Captain Blair
himself was so seriously wounded that he was sent home to
have his injuries attended to and recuperate. After three

months' rest he again reported for duty and resumed com-
mand of his company. He was mustered out June 13, 1865.

So undermined was Major Blair's constitution from the
wounds he received in the war and the hardships he endured
that he was unable to engage in any active business for some
time. When he was somewhat restored to health he went
into partnership with C. H. Wells in the insurance and real
estate business.

In 1876 Major Blair was elected alderman of the Fifth
ward on the Republican ticket, was re-elected several times to
fill the same office, and has been an alderman longer than any
other magistrate in Scranton. He is a strong advocate of
Republican principles. He never allows his politics, how-
ever, to interfere with the performance of his magisterial duties.

Major Blair's wife was Miss Hattie Phillips. She was born
in Nusquehoning, Carbon county, Pa. She was a daughter
of the late Thomas Phillips, an expert mining engineer, who
for some time was connected with the Delaware, Lackawanna
& Western Railroad.

Five children were born to Major and Mrs. Blair. One of
the daughters, Annie V. , died at the age of fifteen. The four
surviving children are L. Augusta, Thomas A. , Edith Wynn,
and M. L., Jr.

After the war Major Blair became a member of the staff of
Commander General E. S. Osborne of the Ninth Division, N.
G. P., and held the rank of major and paymaster for eight
years. He is a member of Hyde Park lodge, No. 339, F. &
A. M., and of Lieutenant Ezra S. Griffin post, No. 139,
G. A. R.

THOMAS D. THOMAS.

Thomas D. Thomas was the last postmaster of Hyde Park.
He held the office from 1873 to 1883. Mr. Thomas was born
at Blaina, Monmouthshire, England, in 1827. He came to
America in 1848, and shortly thereafter settled in Hyde Park.

In 1854 he was married to Miss Martha Edwards. Four
children — Mary, Margaret, Jennie and Martha — were born of
this union.

While serving as foreman in the Mount Pleasant mine in
1868, Mr. Thomas met with an accident which crippled him
somewhat for the remainder of his life. He died in May,
1898. He was a Republican in politics and was appointed
postmaster of Hyde Park by Ulysses Grant.

Postmaster Thomas was of a kind and genial disposition
and a man of industrious habits.

Lackawanna County Postofftces.

Before the division of the county of Luzerne and the crea-
tion of the county of Lackawanna, the undermentioned post-
offices existed, and most of them are still in operation.

Gouldsboro. — The postoffice at Gouldsboro, now called
Thornhurst, was established in 1856, and Jay Gould, the
famous railroad and telegraph operator and multi-millionaire,
was the first postmaster in that place.

Carbondale. — Carbondale postoffice was established in
August, 1829, with James W. Goff as postmaster. His suc-
cessors were William Eggleston, 1833 ; Horatio S. Pierce,
J 839 ; J. P. Williams, Calvin Benjamin, and C. T. Pierson,
1841 ; Martin Curtis, 1842 ; F. M. Crane, 1843 ; H. P.
Ensign, 1844 ; Joseph Gillespie, 1849 ; Anthony Grady,
1854 ; D. N. Lathrop, 1861 ; Wm. R. Baker, 1864 ; Daniel
Prendergast, 1867 ; P. S. Joslin, 1869 ; E. Y. Davis, 1882 ;
Joseph Powderly, 1886 ; W. L. Yarrington, 1890 ; John
Nealon, 1894 > J- H. Thomas, 1899.

Jermyn. — Under the name of Gibsonburg, the postoffice
was established at Jermyn in 1869. The name of the post-
office was changed to Jermyn in 1874. John Gardner was the
first postmaster there. He came from Nottinghamshire, Eng-
land, to Carbondale in 1845 ; married Elizabeth Pratt, a
native of Yorkshire, England, by whom he has five children
living. He has been justice of the peace for over twenty
years ; most of his life in this country has been passed at
Archbald and Jermyn. His successors as postmasters were
Dr. S. D. Davis, 1871 to 1881 ; Dr. T. C. Church, 1881 to
1885 ; Dr. S. D. Davis, 1885 to 1889 ; Thomas Walkey,
1889 to 1895 ! Thomas A. Hendrick, 1895 to 1899 ; John B.
Griffiths, 1899.

Archbald. — The postoffice was established at White

Oak Run, now the borough of Archbald, in 1847. The first
postmaster was G. H. Snyder. His successors since 186 1
were George Simpson, Charles Law, William Muir, Jacob
Ritter, Edward Carroll, M. M. Gilroy, A. J. Mullen, Thomas
Cosgrove and James O'Rourke. C. C. Battenburg is the
present postmaster. His son, A. Battenburg, is a prom-
inent member of the Lackawanna bar.

Moscow. — The Moscow postoffice was established in
1850. The first postmaster here was Leander Griffin. His
successors were E. Simpson, William Brown, Joseph Love-
land, J. Smith, James Parry, O. E. Vaughn, H. L. Gaige,
Lue Pyle, R. Ehrhart and John A. LaTouche. The present
postmaster is O. E. Vaughn.

LaPlume. — The postmaster at this place in 1876 was
William Slocum, an uncle of Joseph Warren Slocum, of
Scranton. His successors were George T. Bailey, John Bailey,
William Slocum, Mrs. William Slocum, R. H. Holgate, J.

F. Tillinghast, Harry Kulp, George T. Bailey.
Olyphant. — The postoffice at Olyphant was at first

known as Blakely, and was on the north side of the river. In
1867 the office was removed to Olyphant.

Dickson City Borough. — Dickson City Borough post-
office was established in 1874 with L. E. Judd as postmaster.
His successors were Thomas Grier and Mathew McPherson.
The office was always in the store of the Elk Hill Coal &
Iron Company until the store business was discontinued last
year and the postoffice removed.

Dunmore. — The Dunmore postoffice was opened in 1848.

G. P. Howell was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by
Francis Quick, H. Sommers, George M. Black, A. J. Weid-
ner, H. Sommers, D. H. Himrod, P. J. Duggan, Miss B. T.
Mooney, Frank McDonald, Marcus K. Bishop.

Clark's Green. — The postoffice at Clark's Green was
opened in 1850, with S. H. Northup as postmaster.

Leach Flats. — Leach Flats postoffice was established in
1880 under the name of Chinchilla. George Tanner was the
first postmaster.

Glenburn. — Glenburn was incorporated as a borough in
1877. The first postmaster was A. Ball. His successors
were W. H. H. Wolfe, Eugene H. Reed, and W. H. H.
Wolfe.

Dalton. — Dalton postoffice was established in 1854. H.
L. Hallstead was the first postmaster. His successors were L.
R. Green, N. D. Green, C. L. Briggs, H. H. Hoffecker, Asa
Eaton, F. L. VanFleet, E. E. Rice.

Abington and Waverly. — Elder John Miller was the
first postmaster, teacher and preacher at Abington. He was
a native of Windham county, Conn. , and came to Abington
in 1775. He is credited with having preached 1,800 funeral
sermons and baptized 2,000 persons. He often conducted
revival meetings, too. He died in 1857, aged 82 years.
When the Abington postoffice was moved to Waverly, Dr.
A. Bedford was appointed postmaster.

Fleetville. — Fleetville's first postmaster was John
Wells. F. Chase also held the office.

Clifton. — Clifton's first postmaster was H. W. Drinker.
The office was established about 1852. William Reese, a large
lumber dealer, was also postmaster for a time.

Daleville. — David Dale was the first postmaster at
Daleville, and he was succeeded by his son, William Dale.
Daleville was named for the Dales, who emigrated from Eng-
land in 1819.

Kizer's Mills and Drinker. — Postoffices were estab-
lished at Kizer's Mills and Drinker in 1875 and 1879 respect-
ively. H. A. Kizer was the first postmaster at the former
place, and G. M. Keyes at the latter.

Madisonville. — The first postmaster at Madisonville, in
Madison township, was John Evans. His wife was afterward
postmistress of the place.

Newton Township. — Henry Litts was the first post-
master in Newton township. He came here with his family
from Sussex county, N. J., in 1816. He transported all his
earthly possessions from New Jersey to Pennsylvania on a
sled drawn by a single yoke of oxen. In 1842 he built a
frame dwelling, near Buttermilk Falls, and in 1844 he was
appointed postmaster. The mail was brought once a week
on horseback from Old Forge. Chauncey Sherwood suc-
ceeded Mr. Litts and removed the office to Newton Centre.

Bald Mount and Schulzville. — At Bald Mount the
store and first postoffice was kept by J. Hill, and at Schultz-
ville, H. F. Barrett was the first postmaster.

Old Forge. — The first postmaster at Old Forge was
William Drake. The Drakes were pioneer settlers in this
place.

Ransom Township. — Benjamin Gardner, whose grand-
father was tortured to death by Indian squaws, a few days
before the Wyoming massacre, was the first postmaster in
Ransom township. The office was at Gardner's Ferry. Ben-
jamin, although paralyzed, was quite an active business man.
Milwaukee, Ransom village and Mountain Valley in this
township, were also postoffice towns.

Dunnings. — The Dunnings postoffice in Roaring Brook
township was established in 1852 and D. J. Peck was the first
postmaster. The village is called after Gilbert Dunning who
formerly owned all the land on which Dunnings stands.

Scott Township. — The first postoffice in Scott township
was a short distance south of Heart Lake, on the Dundaff
turnpike. Charles Berry was the first postmaster. He was
succeeded by Wilmot Vail and the latter by Daniel Vail.
The Berrys came from Connecticut and the Vails from
Orange county, New York. Both families settled in Scott
township in 1806 and 1808. Green Grove and Scott village
in this township also have postoffices.

Spring Brook Township. — The first postmaster in
Spring Brook township was William C. Turner. His office
was near William Davis' store in Spring Brook village. The
Turners settled in this township in 1832. The first mail was
carried by George Swartz. William Davis was also post-
master at Spring Brook.

Yostville. — Yostville is called after Joshua Yost who
went there in 1870 and in partnership with his son he now
conducts a large lumber business. The postoffice was estab-
lished there in 1876 and Joshua Yost has been postmaster

since that time.

postoffice at pittston.

In regard to the establishment of the postoffice at Pittston,
Luzerne county, the "History of Luzerne, Lackawanna and
Wyoming Counties," says: "When the weekly mail route
was established in 1799 between Wilkes-Barre and Owego,
the mail for Pittston was distributed from the houses of Wil-
liam Slocum and Dr. Gibbings, and this irregular arrange-
ment continued until 18 10 as a sort of branch, by way of the
Ferry, from the regular route, which was on the opposite side
of the Susquehanna.

"In 181 1 a postoffice was established and Eleazer Carey
was appointed postmaster. The route from Scranton to
Wilkes-Barre supplied the office with weekly mail. Deodat
Smith and Zephaniah Knapp were mail carriers on this route
till about 1 82 1. Zephaniah Knapp, the second postmaster
here, caused the removal of the office to Babylon and soon
afterward the Pittston Ferry postoffice was established with
John Alment as postmaster. Alment was an Irish Quaker,
blind in one eye. He had kept an early store in a log house,
near the Hughestown cemetery. The boys had robbed him
and made his business quite unprofitable, so he bought a
frame building on Parsonage street and moved it to the site of
Pugh Brothers store on Main street. ' '

The successive postmasters have been Abram Bird, Dr.
Arison G. Curtis, William S. Ridin, Charles R. Gorman,
James Searle, James Walsh, George M. Richart, Benjamin
Ensign, J. B. Shifter, E. F. Ensign, Jeremiah B. Shifter,
Stephen B. Bennett, Cyrus K. Campbell, John H. Mullin,
Theo. Hart. The latter gentleman was also editor and pro-
prietor of the Pittston Gazette, and was appointed postmaster
in 1898. He served until his death, which occurred in April,
1901.

HARRISON, SCRANTONIA, SCRANTON.

Many otherwise well informed persons believe that the
postoffice on its re-establishment in Old Slocum Hollow was
known officially by the name of "Harrison," but this is a
mistake.

SCRANTONIA POSTOFFICE.

J. C. Piatt, in his "Reminiscences," says : "I am
indebted to Hon. Joseph A. Scranton for a late letter from
the third assistant postmaster general, A. D. Hazen, which
states the postoffice at Unionville was established January 10,
181 1, under the name of 'Providence,' and the Hyde Park
postoffice July 14, 1832, and both continued under their
respective names until merged into the carrier delivery system
of Scranton, October 23, 1883. Also that the office of Scran-
tonia was established April 1, 1850, and changed to Scranton
January 23, 1851. Its location here is the best evidence that
it was then, as now, the business centre of this neighborhood,
doubtless owing to its grist and saw mill, iron forge and dis-
tilleries."

IN HONOR OF HARRISON.

The "History of Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming
Counties," says : "The village had a population of 100 in
1840, and was laid out on a circumscribed scale in 1841 by
Captain Stott, a Carbondale civil engineer. William Henry,
whose sterling perseverance had sowed the seeds of progress

at the Hollow, was deeply interested in the election of Wil-
liam Henry Harrison to the Presidency of the United States,
and in honor of his favorite candidate he gave the embryo
city the name of Harrison in 1845, at which time the popula-
tion was 500.

"The people were not ready to adopt it and the old name
of Slocum Hollow still clung to the locality, even after it had
attained a population of 2,730, and been rechristened, in
honor of its founders, Scrantonia ; which name, likewise, did
not fit nicely to the lingual capacities of the denizens of the
Hollow, although the name, Scrantonia, had been given to
the postoffice on its re-establishment, after much difficulty
had been overcome, April 1, 1850. The postmaster was John
W. Moore, for many years a merchant and now retired resi-
dent of Scranton. [Mr. Moore has died since this was writ-
ten].

"J. C. Piatt received the first letter and the first news-
paper through the office. January 23, 1851, the name of the
postoffice was shortened to Scranton, and so the borough and
city have justly been known since.

ctiPPENDIX.

^National (Association of Letter Carriers' Convention,

The annual convention of the National Association of Let-
ter Carriers was held in Scranton, Pa. , during the week begin-
ning September 4, 1899. Nearly 1,000 delegates were pres-
ent and over 5,000 carriers from all parts of the United
States took part in the magnificent parade on Monday after-
noon, September 4.

Almost every building in the city was decorated, and at
night these buildings were ablaze with electric lights. Wash-
ington avenue was especially beautiful. Electric arches span-
ning the thoroughfare, an electric pillar at the corner of Lin-
den street, and an electric flag on the postoffice building pro-
duced effects that were bewitchingly charming. Thousands
viewed the parade and gave the letter carriers a splendid
reception.

Major T. F. Penman, chairman of the reception com-
mittee, received Governor William A. Stone, of Pennsylvania,
at the depot early in the day. The governor was accompan-
ied by Deputy Attorney General Frederick Fleitz. Mr. Pen-
man escorted both gentlemen to the Hotel Jermyn, where Con-
gressman William Connell awaited them and took them to his
home in his carriage. Mr. Connell then went to the depot
where he met Postmaster General Charles Emery Smith,
whom he also conveyed to his residence. President John M.
Parsons, of the association, and Hon. H. B. Dickerson, of
Detroit, Mich. , arrived in Scranton by later trains. Several
of the wives and daughters of the visiting delegates and car-
riers arrived by different trains throughout the day also, and
were taken in hand by the Ladies' Auxilliary entertainment
committee of Scranton and escorted to places where refresh-
ments and amusements were provided for them.

Postmaster Ezra H. Ripple was grand marshal of the par-

ade. The soldierly bearing of the boys in grey as they
marched past the reviewing stand was greatly admired by
Postmaster General Smith and Governor Stone.

After the parade the visitors were escorted to the Armory
on Adams avenue and to other halls in the city where refresh-
ments were provided for them.

PUBLIC RECEPTION.

Monday evening a public reception was tendered the car-
riers and their lady friends in the auditorium of the high
school. Hon. L. A. Watres presided, and Mayor James
Moir welcomed the visitors. Eloquent speeches were made
by Governor Stone, Postmaster General Smith, John M. Par-
sons, president of the National Letter Carriers' Association,
and Attorney A. J. Colborn. Among those on the platform
were Hon. T. V. Powderly, Commissioner General of Immi-
gration, and Congressman William Daly, from Hudson
county, New Jersey. The New York Letter Carriers' Band
played several beautiful selections during the evening and
was loudly applauded. The Scranton Glee Club sang three
or four pretty pieces and was encored. The visitors voted
that they had spent a most pleasant evening. They also said
that Scranton surpassed any city they had yet visited for its
kindness and hospitality to strangers.

BANQUET TO POSTMASTERS.

Postmaster Ezra H. Ripple, of Scranton, gave a banquet
on Monday evening, September 4, in the Hotel Jermyn, in
honor of the visiting postmasters. The banquet was attended
by about ninety guests, including Postmaster General Smith
and Governor Stone. Responses to toasts were made as fol-
lows :

City of Scranton — Hon. James Moir, Mayor of Scranton,
Pa.

President McKinley — Hon. Charles Emery Smith, Post-
master General.

The Commonwealth — Hon. W. A. Stone, Governor of
Pennsylvania.

From the Civil Service Congress — Hon. William Connell,
Representative from the Eleventh Congressional District.

The Letter Carrier and His Friends — Hon. T. V. Pow-
derly, Commissioner General of Immigration.

National Association of Letter Carriers — John M. Parsons,
President.

The banquet was a thoroughly enjoyable one in every
respect.

CONVENTION OFFICIALY OPENS.

The convention opened for business on Tuesday morning,
September 5, at St. Thomas' hall, on Wyoming avenue.
The hall was tastefully decorated. An evening session was
also held. President Parsons occupied the chair at the morn-
ing session and delivered an encouraging address.

Superintendent of Free Delivery Machen spoke at the
morning session. He said that Postmaster General Smith
took great pride in the appearance of the letter carriers in the
parade. Mr. Machen paid a high compliment to the sagacity
of President Parsons, and said he was the right man in the
right place.

EIGHT-HOUR DAY.

Referring to the eight-hour day, Mr. Machen said that no
step backward is contemplated. The men at the head of the
postal department believe in an eight-hour day. Not only
that, but they believe in an eight-hour law for all kinds of
labor. "It is proposed," continued Mr. Machen, "to make
the law conform to the peculiar conditions of the postal sys-
tem. It is proposed to work forty-eight hours in six days,
but the system must be so arranged that the letter carrier can
satisfy his patrons and distribute his mail instead of carrying
it back to the office when only a little time would be required
to distribute it."

SALARIES, RETIREMENT, ETC.

On Wednesday, September 6, the convention resumed its
work. Resolutions looking to the readjustment of salaries
were referred to the committee on legislation. A resolution
was adopted instructing the lobbyists of the association at
Washington to help the postal clerks in their efforts to secure
legislation that would be to their interests. A resolution was
also adopted to appoint a committee to prepare a substitute
retirement bill. In the afternoon the delegates went to Moun-
tain Park where they were the guests of the Wilkes-Barre
letter carriers.

The convention held three sessions on Thursday, Septem-
ber 7. President Parsons read his annual report at the morn-
ing session and congratulated the association on the splendid
work it was doing.

Postmaster Ripple visited the convention. He received
quite an ovation and made a speech.

The convention in the afternoon discussed the report of
the committee on revision.

In the afternoon the Ladies' Auxilliary entertained the vis-
iting ladies with a basket picnic at Nay Aug Park. In the
evening the New York Letter Carriers' Band and the Scran-
ton Glee Club gave concerts at the residence of Congressman
William Connell.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

On Friday, September 8, the convention elected officers
as follows :

President, John M. Parsons ; vice-president, Charles H.
Duffy, of Chicago, 111. ; secretary, Edward J. Cantwell, Brook-
lyn, N. Y. ; treasurer, Alexander McDonald, Grand Rapids,
Mich.

Members of Executive Committee — John F. McElroy,
Bridgeport, Conn. ; Al. K. Young, Cincinnatti, O. ; A. J.
Michener, St. Louis, Mo. ; H. B. Seaton, Denver, Col. ;
Wm. B. Moyniham, Rochester, N. Y.

Chairman Legislative Committee — James Arkeson, Fall
River, Mass. (re-elected).

Committee on Legislation — B. J. Curtin, Lynn, Mass. ;
Richard F. Quinn, Philadelphia.

Civil Service Commission — John H. Phillips, Scranton,
Pa. ; Wm. H. Flaherty, New Orleans, La. ; W. H. Gees,
Baltimore, Md.

Board of Trustees M. B. A.— Charles B. Kelly, New
York City.

Committee on Constitution and Laws — James C. Keller,
Cleveland, O. ; James A. Monahan, Boston ; Melville John-
son, Columbus, O.

Detroit was selected as the place for holding the next con-
vention.

Reports of committees were received and discussed. In
executive session constitutional matters and affairs relating to
the Mutual Benefit Association were considered. The lady
visitors, with the members of the Auxilliary committee,
enjoyed a ride over the boulevard.

REVISING THE CONSTITUTION.

On Saturday morning the revision of the constitution was
taken up and finished in the afternoon. The installation of
the newly elected officers took place in the evening, and reso-
lutions were adopted as follows : Thanking the citizens'
committee and the local letter carriers for their hospitality,
and the press for its full and comprehensive reports of the
proceedings.

The convention adjourned at 8 130 on Saturday evening,
September 9, 1899.

PRAISE FOR SCRANTON.

John M. Parsons, president of the National Letter Carriers'
Association, speaking about the above convention, said :
"This was the largest, most successful and most enjoyable
convention of the association ever held. The manner in

which the whole city turned itself into a committee of enter-
tainment to make our stay enjoyable reflects great credit on
the local letter carriers, for if they were not efficient and pop-
ular they would not be able to command so much attention
for their guests.

"The lady visitors were most cordially and hospitably
entertained by the Ladies' Auxilliary, and they feel grateful
for the many gracious acts of Miss Campbell and her asso-
ciates.

"The newspapers are especially deserving of the associa-
tion's thanks for in no city that the convention has thus far
visited have there been such able and extensive reports made
of our proceedings.

"Say the most complimentary thing you can think about
the general hospitality of Scranton and subscribe my name to
it." John M. Parsons.

(Anecdotes and ^Miscellaneous SMatier,
Dr. Hollister says that an old gentleman who discharged
the duties of mail boy from 1811 to 1824 relates many anec-
dotes of his adventures, and his encounters with humanity in
its "most amusing aspects," at the stopping places on his
route.

"At one point," writes the doctor, "the office was kept in
a low log barroom where, after the contents of the mail pouch
were emptied on the unswept floor, all the inmates gave slow
and repeated motion to each respective paper and letter.
Sometimes the mail boy, finding no one at home but the
children, who were generally engaged drumming on the din-
ner pot, or the housewife, unctuous with lard and dough, lolli-
bye-babying a boisterous child to sleep, was compelled to act
as carrier and postmaster himself. At another point upon the
road the commission of postmaster fell upon the thick should-
ers of a Dutchman, remarkable for nothing but his full, round
stomach. This was his pride and he would pat it incessantly
while he dilated upon the virtues of his krout and frau.

"It would have been amazingly stupid for the department
to have questioned his order or integrity, for as the lean mail
bag came tumbling into his door from the saddle, the old
comical Dutchman and his devoted wife carried it to a rear
bedroom in his house, poured the contents upon the floor,
where at one time it actually took them from three o'clock in
the afternoon till noon the next day to change the mail.
Believing with Lord Bacon that 'knowledge is power' he
detained, about election time, all political documents to his
opponents. These he deposited in a safe place in his cart
until after the election had taken place, and they could work
his cause no harm, when they were handed over with great
liberality to those to whom they belonged — provided he was
paid the postage.

HOW THE MAILS DISAPPEARED.

' 'At another remote place where the office was kept, the
mail bag being returned to the postboy almost empty, led him
to investigate the cause of this sudden collapse in a neighbor-
hood inhabited by a few. The prolific number of ten chil-
dren, graduating from one to twenty years, all called the post-
master 'dad,' and as no one could read, the letters and papers
came to a dead stop on arriving thus far.

"As these were poured out on the floor among pans and
kettles, each child would seize a package exclaiming, 'this
is for me,' and 'this is for you,' and that for somebody else,
until the greater bulk of mail matter intended for other offices
was parcelled out and appropriated by various persons and
never heard of again. ' '

MUSIC IN THE POSTOFFICE.

Dr. Throop says in his book, "A Half Century in Scran-
ton," that in the store connected with the postoffice in Hyde
Park, one could find a general assortment of dry goods, gro-
ceries, hardware, drugs, medicines and liquors. That was
about the year 1840. In the evening, too, this was the hail-
ing place for the neighborhood, and the habitues were often
delighted with the music of a sweet violin to a late hour.

YE OLD MAIL COACH.

"The mail facilities at this time," continues Dr. Throop,
' 'consisted of a line of two-horse stages that ran from Hones-
dale to Wilkes-Barre, via of Carbondale, going up one day and
down the next, thus giving the inhabitants a tri-weekly mail
from each direction, though it took about three days to get a
letter to or from New York or Philadelphia. The Honesdale
and Wilkes-Barre stage was a two-horse, three-seated vehicle,
and carried five passengers and the driver, who was for many
years John Kennedy. He lived on a farm subsequently pur-
chased by the late Moses Taylor, on the place where Taylor-

ville now stands. Later on, this line was succeeded by one
made up of covered four-horse coaches, which about 1844
began to run daily and was well patronized.

CAPTIVATED BY WILES OF VENUS.

"It is seldom that a New York paper was met with, and
the papers at Wilkes-Barre gave the news to the world once
a week. There were but few men of liberal education in the
country, and those were emigrants from the east ; and, as a
general thing, were estray schoolmasters seeking a market for
knowledge that was not merchantable whence they came ;
but they were well received, and, captivated by the wiles of
Venus, became fixtures, and gave tone to the intelligence of
the valley."

HYDE PARK SUB-STATION.

At the request of the Hyde Park Board of Trade and
through the efforts of Congressman William Connell, Post-
master Ezra H. Ripple, Hon. T. V. Powderly and other influ-
ential citizens, a branch postoffice was established in Hyde
Park at the beginning of the fiscal year, 1 900-1. The office
is situated on Jackson street and Superintendent John Henry
Phillips has charge of it. It is known as "West Scranton
Station."

TURTLE IN POSTMASTER'S POCKET.

Attorney Edward Merrifield, in his pamphlet entitled
"Law and Lawyers of Old Providence," after paying a high
tribute to the ability, integrity and geniality of Attorney
David S. Koon, postmaster of Providence under the adminis-
tration of James K. Polk, relates the following interesting
story about Mr. Koon :

"He [the postmaster] was of a phlegmatic temperament,
at least as far as physical exertion was concerned. I recall on
one occasion when this was put to the test.

"Some rascally youngster brought up from the river a
small turtle. Mr. Koon wore a long sack coat with large

gaping pockets. It was a great temptation to this brewer of
mischief, so he carefully slipped up behind the imperturbable
postmaster and dropped it in. It is needless to say that the
result of discovery was watched for with anxiety. By and by
the turtle became uneasy and made manifestations of his objec-
tion to close confinement, especially without anything to drink.
"Ordinarily most men would have been aroused to quick
investigation. Not so with him. Calmly and philosophically
he placed his hand in his pocket, and even yet there was not
an accelerated muscular movement. With deliberation and
no traces of excitement he slowly walked out into the back
yard, where no mortal eye could see, and deposited the inno-
cent cause of the trouble. It is very questionable whether
mankind in general would not be better off with this sort of
serene temperament."

A PHILANTHROPIC POSTMASTER.

Hon. Henry Roberts, the father of Postmaster Henry
Roberts, of Providence, was postmaster at Falls, in Wyoming
county, in the early part of the last century (1800). Dr.
Roberts says that he (the doctor) used to carry the mail for
his father on horseback and deliver it in the surrounding coun-
try. He said his father usually paid the postage on the let-
ters, the persons to whom they were addressed being too poor
to do so.

"boot" paid in cattle.

The "History of Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming
Counties" says that during Hon. Henry Roberts' time old
settlers used to exchange possessions, and "boot" was always
paid in cattle and other necessaries. Farms at Falls were
never sold for cash till about 1805 or 1806. One pound of
maple sugar was exchanged for a shad. About 181 1, saw logs
and produce were considered legal tender for goods, as no
money could be obtained for wheat short of Easton.

POSTAGE STAMPS INTRODUCED.

Postage stamps and envelopes were introduced in England
in 1837, by Rowland Hill. Shortly after they were to a lim-
ited extent used in America, but did not come into general use
until about 1850. Letters were written, folded and addressed
all on the same sheet and sealed with a wafer or sealing wax.
In 1780 the mail routes included a few cities and towns in
Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Kentucky, Virginia and Georgia, making two weekly deliv-
eries in summer and bi-weekly in winter. There was no post-
master general in the cabinet until 1829.

Letters were charged twenty-five cents for anything over
450 miles. Half a century later ten cents, prepaid, carried a
letter 3000 miles, and under that distance, five and three
cents.

ONLY GOOSE QUILL PENS THEN.

The popular pen was the gray goose quill. England
began the manufacture of steel pens in 1819, but down to
1845 they had not come into general use in America.

It is said of Henry Clay that he learned to write by tracing
letters on sand with a sharp stick, and that Daniel Webster's
first pen was surreptitiously plucked from his mother's pet
goose, his ink being soot mixed with water.

THE SEARLES OF NEW ENGLAND.

Constant Searle, born June 17 (O. S. ), 1728, at Little
Compton, R. I., killed by the Indians at Providence, Luzerne
county, Pa., had twelve children of whom William was the
oldest.

William had a son Miner, who was father of Voltaire.
Hence Voltaire was great-grandson of Constant.

The following additional notes in regard to the Searle
family have been gleaned from various sources :

Constant Searle, Jr., settled in Providence village in 1790;

was appointed a viewer to lay out roads in 1791 ; and was
elected justice of the peace in 1799.

Among the purchasers in Providence township between
1772 and 1775 was Ebenezer Searle.

Roger, William and Miner Searle were among the prop-
erty owners assessed in what is now Pittston in 1796.

James Searle, son of Henry Luther Searle and grandson
of William Searle, was postmaster of Pittston, from 1861 to
1867. He was born in 1820 in Greenfield township, Pa. He
kept a jewelry store in Pittston for many years. His wife was
Miss Elizabeth Furman, of Scranton. She lives on Park
street, West Pittston.

Henry Searle, great grandson of Constant Searle, a victim
of the Wyoming massacre, was born in Luzerne county in
1827. His wife was Miss Martha Powell, of Wales. He was
in the employ of the Penny Coal Company, over a quarter of
a century.

John Searle drove the stage coach between Wilkes- Barre
and Montrose for many years. He was a son of Roger Searle
and grandson of Constant Searle. He was born in 1795 and
died in 1863. He was married to Miss Mary Stark, daughter
of Henry Stark, of Plains, in the year 1822. The couple had
two sons and six daughters. One of the sons, John Roger
Searle, was a lieutenant in the Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania
Regiment and died in the service, December 13, 1862.

Judge D. W. Searle, of Montrose, Pa. , is one of the ablest
lawyers on the bench. He freqently comes to Scranton to
try cases in the county courts. He is a learned, polite and
unassuming gentleman. His sister is married to Chief Justice
McCollam, of the supreme court of Pennsylvania.

Branches of the Searle family are to be found in most of
the New England states.

THE VAUGHNS.

The Vaughns came from Portchester, N. Y. , and neigh-

borhood, to the Lackawanna valley in 1797. Many of their
kinsmen are still to be found in New York state.

Colonel Moses Vaughn, son of Captain John Vaughn,
inherited his father's farm in Blakely. The farm was after-
ward occupied by John Tripp.

Captain Peter Hallock, under whom Postmaster John
Vaughn served in the war of 181 2-14, kept the first hotel
opened in Orange, Franklin township, this state. The Hal-
locks were from Orange county, New York.

SEVERAL SLOCUMS WERE POSTMASTERS.

The Slocums furnished two postmasters to Scranton, and
Major Isaac Slocum, the first postmaster in Tunkhannock,
was a brother of Benjamin Slocum, the first postmaster of
what afterward became the city of Scranton. William P.
Slocum was postmaster at LaPlume in 1876, and another
Slocum was postmaster in the Wyoming valley.

Thomas Truxton Slocum, a son of Postmaster Benjamin
Slocum, gave two acres of land, May 25, 1842, on which to
build the Wyoming county court house at Tunkhannock.

Ebenezer Slocum, Postmaster Benjamin's brother and
partner in Slocum Hollow, was born at Portsmouth, R. I.,
January 10, 1766. He married Sarah, daughter of Joseph
and Obedience (Sperry) Davis. The following children were
born of this union : Ruth, married Elisha Hitchcock ; Syd-
ney, married Jane LaFrance (Sydney was killed by an acci-
dent in the grist mill at Providence January 20, 1825); Eben-
ezer, Jr., married Sally Mills ; Benjamin, married Matilda
Griffin ; Joseph, married Edilda Bingham ; Samuel, married
Polly Dings ; Thomas, married Sarah S. Jenkins ; Sarah,
married Alva Heermans, a great uncle of Dr. Heermans, of
Hyde Park ; Charles M. ; William, married Jane Lockwood ;
Mary ; Esther, married Lester Bristol, and Giles, married
Sarah Decker.

Ebenezer Slocum died of apoplexy July 25, 1832.

Joseph, his son, and nephew of Postmaster Benjamin, mar-
ried, in 1830, Edilda Bingham, as above stated. Their child-
ren were Joseph Warren, married Hannah M. Collins. The
children of this couple are Florence W. , Frank H. , Kate,
Joseph, Ida (deceased), Bessie (deceased) and George W.
Rudolphus Bingham Slocum was born in 1845 and married
Annie Lloyd, by whom he had three children.

IRA TRIPP.

Ira Tripp's great grandfather, Isaac Tripp, and the latter' s
son-in-law, Jonathan Slocum, father of Postmaster Benjamin
Slocum, were killed and scalped by the Indians and Tories at
Wilkes-Barre in 1778.

Ira Tripp was born in the old township of Providence Jan-
uary 6, 1 814. He was the second son of Isaac and Catherine
(LaFrance) Tripp. His brothers and sisters were Benjamin,
Isaac, Holden, Diana, Phcebe, Maria, Catherine and Mahala.
Ira was married to Rosanna G. , daughter of Jacob and Eliza-
beth Shoemaker, of Wyoming, on February 20, 1838. The
children of this union were Isaac C. , Leander S. and Gertie.

About the year 1846 Ira purchased the interest of his two
brothers in the old homestead and went to reside there.
Governor Pollock appointed him one of his aide-de-camps
with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 1861 he enlisted in
the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment and served as a hospital
steward for nine months. He was a Republican in politics.
He was of a kind and genial disposition, liked by everybody.

Ira was an inveterate smoker. When, however, he was
threatened with throat trouble he smoked by proxy only, and
it afforded him extreme pleasure to inhale the fragrant odors
from the cigars of his friends.

Isaac Tripp, great grandfather of Ira, came from Provi-
dence, R. I., to the Wyoming valley in 1769, and settled at
Wilkes-Barre, where, as before stated, he and his son-in-law,
Jonathan Slocum, were murdered by the red men.

Ira Tripp died in 1892 and his widow in 1900.

REICHARD FAMILY.

The Reichard family is of German origin. On their arri-
val in this country they first settled in New England and came
thence to Pennsylvania, in which state Postmaster Henry
Reichard was born.

DR. AUGUSTUS DAVIS.

Dr. Sumner D. Davis, who was postmaster at Jermyn,
writes the compiler of this work, in reply to inquiries concern-
ing the appointment of his uncle, Dr. Augustus Davis, to the
postmastership of Hyde Park, as follows :

Jermyn, Pa., February 9, 1901.
Dear Sir :

In regard to the postoffice at Hyde Park, would say that
Dr. Augustus Davis was appointed postmaster at Hyde Park
during Johnson's administration. I think he was appointed
in 1866. It happened something like this : Immediately
after the close of Congress in spring or summer of 1866,
Dr. Davis was appointed {ad interim) postmaster, took
charge of the office and removed it to the small building — still
standing in Hyde Park on the property then owned by him
and still owned by Mrs. M. M. Davis, his widow. I think it
is used as a barber shop. Dr. Davis held the office until the
close of the next session of the senate, being then rejected by
that body. I acted as his deputy during the time he held the
office — nearly, if not quite a year.

The senate tied Andrew Johnson's hands to prevent the
emoval of postmasters, etc. Nevertheless, during the ad
interim Andrew managed to make removals and appoint-
ments. Dr. Davis was the appointee. After the meeting of
Congress, probably at the usual time in December, the senate
refused to confirm. The president then sent in the name of
William Oram, who was also rejected ; next, Captain M. L.
Blair's name was sent in and, close to the end of the session,

was confirmed, but immediately, on the day following, was
reconsidered on account of some Cameron and anti-Cameron
trouble and rejected. Charles Dennison, who was Congress-
man from the Twelfth district, then gave the president the
name of Judge William Merrifield and the senate confirmed
on the very last day of the session. Dr. Davis held the office
from the date of his appointment during all this time until
Judge Merrifield qualified. I give the date as 1867 as I know
he was holding the office in July and August of that year.

Yours truly, S. D. Davis.

OLDEST POSTMASTER IN ACTIVE SERVICE.

Roswell Bardsley, who is ninety-one years old, has been
postmaster at North Lansing, Tompkins county, N. Y. , for
nearly seventy-three years.

Mr. Bardsley was appointed postmaster of North Lansing
on June 28, 1828. John Ouincy Adams was then president
and John McLean, of Ohio, postmaster general. He is not
only the oldest man in the postal service, but is believed to be
the oldest employe of the government in any capacity. He
has served under nineteen presidents and thirty-three post-
master generals.

Soon after he entered the cabinet the attention of Post-
master General Smith was attracted to this Methuselah of the
postal service, and an examination of his record showed that
in all the years he had been in office not a single complain
of his management of the office had been filed. Mr. Smith
wrote him a letter congratulating him upon his long and faith-
ful service, and received a reply in Mr. Bardsley' s own hand-
writing saying that, although he was ninety years old, he was
still able to attend to the duties of his office.

The town of North Lansing has not grown much since
1828, when Mr. Bardsley was appointed, with a salary of
$175 a year, and he still receives the same salary. The

growth of the postal service since he became connected with
it is shown by the fact that there were only 8,004 postoffices
in the United States when he was appointed, and now there
are 76,688.

JOHN P. HARDING.

"John P. Harding, postmaster of Providence between
1845 and 1846, was twice married," said Mr. William Love,
the blacksmith, of North Main avenue, Scranton. "His
second wife was the widow Caroline Palmer, my sister.
There were no children of this union."

STATISTICAL.

POSTOFFICE STATISTICS.

LIST OF THE PRESENT CHIEF OFFICERS OF THE POSTOFFICE
DEPARTMENT AT WASHINGTON, D. C.

POSTMASTER GENERAL.
Chas. Emory Smith, Pennsylvania.

Chief Clerk Blain W. Taylor, West Virginia

Private Secretary Clarence E. Dawson, Maryland

FIRST ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL.
Wm. M. Johnson, New Jersey.

Chief Clerk Geo. M. Allen, Indiana

Supt. Division of Postoffice Supplies Michael W. Louis, Ohio

Supt. Division of Free Delivery A. W. Machen, Ohio

Supt. Div. of Salaries and Allowances Geo. W. Beavers, New York

Supt. Money Order System James T. Metcalf, Iowa

Supt. Dead Letter Office David P. Leibhardt, Indiana

SECOND ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL.
• W. S. Shallenberger, Pennsylvania.

Chief Clerk Geo. F. Stone, New York

Supt. Railway Adjustments James H. Crew, Ohio

Chief Division of Inspection James B. Cook, Maryland

Chief Division of Mail Equipment Thos. P. Graham, New York

Supt. Foreign Mails N. M. Brooks, Virginia

Chief Contract Division E. P. Rhoderick, Illinois

Gen'l Supt. Railway Mail Service James E. White, Illinois

Ass't Gen'l Supt Alexander Grant, Michigan

THIRD ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL-
Edwin C. Madden, Michigan.

Chief Clerk Arthur W. Travers, Michigan

Chief Finance Division Albert W. Bingham, Michigan

Chief Postage Stamp Division James H. Reeve, New York

Supt. Registry System Wm. H. Landvoigt, District of Columbia

FOURTH ASSISTANT PGSTMASTER GENERAL-
J. L. Bristow, Kansas.

Chief Clerk Merritt O. Chance, Illinois

Chief Division of Appointments Carter B. Keene, Maine

Chief Postoffice Inspector W. E. Cochran, Colorado

AUDITOR FOR THE POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.

Henry A. Castle, Minnesota.

Deputy Auditor A. L- Lawshe, Indiana

Chief Clerk John B. Sleman, Illinois

9 2

LIST OF THE PRESENT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES AT THE
SCRANTON, PA., POSTOFFICE-

Postmaster Ezra H. Ripple

Assistant Postmaster David W. Powell

Secretary and Stenographer Arthur W. Close

Supt. Free Delivery William D. Roche

Chief Mailing Clerk Louis G. Schautz

Money Order Clerk P.J. Messett

Registry Clerk J. Fred. Schwenk

General Delivery Clerk Evan G. Reese

" " " David H. Jenkins

Record Clerk Mary L. Kirlin

Stamp Clerk Geo. J. Duhigg

" " Edward P. Janue

Mailing Clerk Rush Wright

" " Christian Neher

" " Thos. F. McDonough

" Joseph W. Hall

Distributer Benjamin F. Allen

" Joseph H. Mathias

Utility Clerk Elias Williams

Stamper Geo. P. Fellenser

" John H. McDonough

" R. B. H. Kinback

Substitute Clerk Royal Taft

" " Michael Maloney

" Julia A. White

" William J. Elias

Special Delivery Messenger William Campbell

" " " Cornelius Barrett

" " " Andrew Brogan

" " " Thos. J. Reilley

Janitor James H . Reill ey

Watchman and Fireman John P. White

Charwoman Kate Kelly

WEST SCRANTON STATION.

Superintendent John H. Phillips

General Utility Clerk William F. Gibbons

SUB-STATION NO. I.
Clerk-in-charge Albert Scbultz

SUB-STATION NO. 2.
Clerk-in-charge Geo. W. Davis

SUB-STATION NO. 3.

Clerk-in-charge Chas. P. Jones

SUB-STATION NO. 4.
Clerk-in-charge John Westpfahl

SUB-STATION NO. 5.

Clerk-iti-charge William A. Grady

SUB-STATION no. 6.
Clerk-in-charge Emma E. Gelbert

SUB-STATION NO. 7.
Clerk-in-charge Chas. T. Miller

LETTER CARRIERS — MAIN OFFICE

Harry E. Whyte Elmer E. Affleck

Edward D. Jones George W. Frisbie

John P. Forster Benjamin L. Jones

Joseph Schiel, Jr. Richard J. Grimes

Henry Kuoepfel George R. Gehrer

Eugene Evans Victor H. Lauer

William Moser David U. Reese

John Kelly Isaac J. Price

Leopold Johler John J. Higgius

Armit Thomas John R. Davis

Michael O'Malley William B. Prosser

Frederick Emery William H. Bird

Joseph Fidiam James F. Lynott

John T. Maloney Thomas D. Davies

Argus N. Jenkins Burton E. Weldy

James McGinnis Thomas B. Birtley

Lucius R. Squier Harry H. Moore

John McDonough William J. Owens

SUBSTITUTE LETTER CARRIERS.

Benjamin F. Thomas James F. Saltry

Edward J. Leonard Henry R. Edwards

William E. Shepherd George A. Cobb

Henry Kellerrnan John R. Jones

Richard Evans

WEST SCRANTON STATION— LETTER CARRIERS.
William D. Morgan Eleazer S. Evans

Walter McNichols George A. Jones

Thomas 0. Williams Thomas R. Jones

William J. Cannon

CONTRACTORS CARRYING MAILS TO AND FROM SCRANTON
POSTOFFICE.

Route No. 410016— Postoffice and Railway Stations Joseph Kelly

" No. 310017 — Scranton and Dunmore Scranton Railway Co.

" No. 310049 — Postoffice & W. Scranton Sta., " " "

" No. 10453 — Scranton and Throop A. F. Parfrey

MEMBERS OF LOCAL BOARD OF U. S. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

Wm. D. Roche, President. L. G. Schautz, Secretary.

D. H. Jenkins.

Examinations for Clerks and Carriers held in November each year.

LIST OF PRESENT POSTOFFICES AND TOSTMASTET^S OF
LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

POSTOFFICES. POSTMASTERS.

Scranton Ezra H. Ripple, Postmaster

West Scranton Station, mo Jackson St John H. Phillips, Snpt.

Sub-Station No. i,

1202 Mulberry St .Albert Schultz, Clerk-in-charge

Sub-Station No. 2,

103 W. Market St Geo. W. Davis, Clerk-in-charge

Sub-Station No. 3,

1557 Dickson Ave Chas. P.Jones, Clerk-in-charge

Sub-Station No. 4,

629 Pittston Ave John Westpfahl, Clerk-in-charge

Sub-vStation No. 5,

403 Broadway William A. Grady, Clerk-in-charge

Sub-Station No. 6,

23 Lackawanna Ave Emma E. Gelbert, Clerk-in-chargc

Sub-Station No. 7,

Park Place Chas. T. Miller, Clerk-in-charge

Aberdeen John A. Yeager

*Amasa * George Taylor

Archbald C. C. Battenberg

Bald Mount Elizabeth Aten

Carbondale John H. Thomas

Childs John F. Walker

Chinchilla James Holgate

Clarks Green W. S. Frace

Clarks Summit W. B. Parker

Clifton Emma Gershbacher

Coyne Casper Weisenfluh

Craig John P. Stevens

Daleville D. W. Dale

Dalton Mrs. Susan A. Rice

Dickson City Matthew McPherson

Drinker Jesse M. Hiney

Dunmore M. K. Bishop

East Benton Alva J. Capwell

Edella Truman E. Clark

Elmdale F. P. McPeek

Elmhurst Lorenzo W. Partridge

Eynou Abraham Howells

Fleetville Geo. E. Freeman

Frey town W. R. Sayre

Glenburn Wm. H. H. Wolfe

*Green Grove A. H. Benedict

Jermyn John B. Griffiths

J essu p Joh u R . Edwards

Jubilee Chas. W. Frazier

*Justus Milton Job nson

Kisers H. J. Cook

LaPlume Geo. T. Bailey

Madison ville John Evans

Maple Lake G. P. Rollison

Marshbrook Cornelius S. Gumaer

Marshwood Chas. P. Ford

Mayfield Alex. Schlanta

Milwaukee Martin Sickler

Miuooka W.J. Burke

*Montdale Willard Hunt

Moosic John McCrindle

Moscow O. E. Vaughn

Mount Cobb Z. A. Swingle

Nay Aug Tilly Turner

Old Forge Patrick J. Judge

Olyphant Samuel J. Matthews

Peckville U. V. Mace

Priceburg J. N. Snyder

Ransom G. C. Ace

Rendham Peter F. Lally

Schultzville George Sherman

*Scott Mrs. C. G. Hierlihy

Simpson Wiufield S. Bonham

Spring Brook T. J. Matthews

Taylor John W. Reese

Thornhurst R. C. Drum

Throop W.J. Appleman

*Tompkinsville Wm. C. Merritt

Vandling W. B. Brown

Wallsville R. E. Farnham

Waverly E. H. Bailey

Wimmers Emma Emery

Winton J. H. Schneur

Yostville E. E. Arms

^Discontinued May i, 1901, by reason of the establishment of
Rural Free Delivery routes between Olyphant and Tompkinsville,
and Jermyn and Tompkinsville.

9 6
STATEMENT SHOWING AMOUNT OF BUSINESS TRANSACTED

AT THE SCRANTON POSTOFFICE, IN ALL DEPARTMENTS, FOR THE YEAR
ENDING MARCH 31, I90I, OR THE CLOSING YEAR OF THE FOUR-
YEAR TERM OF EZRA H. RIPPLE AS POSTMASTER.

POSTAL BUSINESS.

Proceeds from the sale of postage stamps, postal cards,

envelopes, and newspaper wrappers $ 192,371 49

Box rents 1,233 $7

$ 193,605 36

MONEY ORDER BUSINESS.

Number of orders issued 26,553

Number of orders paid 74,062

Total number of orders handled 100,615

Money received from orders issued, including fees $ 216,406 53

Money paid on orders received 485,070 97

Remittances from other offices 269,000 00

Total amount of money handled in Money Order Depart-
ment $ 970,477 50

REGISTRY BUSINESS.

Number of letters and parcels registered and dispatched 23,315

" " " " received and delivered 33,423

" " " " in transit 24,604

Total number of pieces handled 81,342

SPECIAL DELIVERY BUSINESS.

Number of letters received and deliveied u ,682

" " dispatched 11,336

Total number of Special Delivery letters handled 23,018

MONEY HANDLED FROM ALL SOURCES.

Amount received on Money Orders issued $ 216,306 53

" paid on Money Orders received 485,07097

Remittances from other offices (surplus M. O. funds) 269,000 00

" " " " (surplus Postal funds) 39,107 48

Proceeds from sales of postage stamps and stamped paper 192,371 49

" " box rents 1,23387

Total amount of money handled $1,203,190 34

Number of clerks employed at Main Office 21

" " " " Station and Sub-Stations 9

" Substitute clerks (Main Office) 4

" Letter carriers (Main Office) 36

" " " (West Scranton Station) 7

" Substitute Carriers (Main Office) 9

Number of Special Delivery messengers 4

vStreet letter-boxes distributed throughout the city 216

Package-boxes " " " " 24

Letter chutes " " " " 3

Postage stamps sold 6,860,010

" Postal cards sold 589.475

Stamped envelopes sold 1,236,800

Newspaper wrappers sold 65,000

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT

OF YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, I90I (CLOSING YEAR OF POSTMASTER
EZRA H. RIPPLE'S TERM), WITH THAT OF YEAR 1897 (THE CLOSING
YEAR OF HIS PREDECESSOR'S TERM); AND, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
SHOWING THE IMMENSE GROWTH OF BUSINESS OF THE OFFICE
DURING THE SEVEN YEARS, COMPARISON IS MADE, YEAR 190I
WITH THAT OF 1894.

POSTAL BUSINESS.

Receipts from sales of stamps and stamped paper and

box rents — year ending March 31, 1901. $ 193,605 36

Receipts from sales of stamps and stamped paper and

box rents — year 1897 123,688 37

Receipts from sales of stamps and stamped paper and

box rents — year 1894 101,702 77

Increase year 1901 over 1897, $69,916.99 or 56J per cent.
Increase year 1901 over 1894, $91,902.59 or 90 f 3 5 per cent.

MONEY ORDER BUSINESS.

Total number of orders handled, year 1901 100,615

Total number of orders handled, year 1S97.. 52,490

Total number of orders handled, year 1894 33, 119

Increase year 1901 over 1897, 48,125 or 91 r 6 a per cent.

Increase year 1901 over 1894, 67,496 or 200^5 per cent.
Amount of money received on orders issued, year 1901...$ 216,406 53
Amount of money received on orders issued, year 1897... 181,492 82
Amount of money received on orders issued, year 1894... 137,615 61

Increase year 1901 over 1897, $34,913.71 or 19^ per cent.

Increase year 1901 over 1894, $78,790.92 or 57 x 3 o V er cent.

Amount of money paid on orders received, year 1901 $ 485,070 97

Amount of money paid on orders received, year 1897 219,240 32

Amount of money paid on orders received, year 1894 140,015 79

Increase year 1901 over 1897, $265,830.65 or i2i T 2 5 per cent.

Increase year 1901 over 1894, $345,055.18 or 246^ per cent.
Remittances from other offices (surplus M. O. funds)

year 1901 $ 269,000 00

Not a Money Order Depository in 1897.
Not a Money Order Depository in 1894.

9 8

Total amount Money Order funds handled in year 1901...$ 970,477 50
Total amount Money Order funds handled in year 1897... 563,203 40
Total amount Money Order funds handled in year 1894... 405,622 8r

Increase year 1901 over 1897, $407,274.10 or 72 T 3 per cent.

Increase year 1901 over 1894, $564,854.69 or i39 T 2 o per cent.

REGISTRY BUSINESS.

Number of pieces registered, year 1901 23,315

Number of pieces registered, year 1897 14.785

Number of pieces registered, year 1894 12,474

Increase year 1901 over 1897, 8,530 or 57 ^ per cent.

Increase year 1901 over 1894, 10,841 or 87 per cent.

Number of pieces received and delivered, year 1901 33.4 2 3

Number ot pieces received and delivered, year 1897 19,282

Number of pieces received and delivered, year 1894 T 5,5i°

Increase year 1901 over 1897, 14,141 or 731*6 P er cent.

Increase year 1901 over 1894, 17,913 or 115L per cent.

Number of pieces in transit, year 1901 24,604

Number of pieces in transit, year 1897 21,582

Number of pieces in transit, year 1894 23,595

Increase year 190 c over 1897, 3,022 or 14 per cent.

Increase year 1901 over 1894, 1,009 or 4i ? o P er cent.

Total number of pieces handled, year 1901 81,342

Total number of pieces handled, year 1897 55.649

Total number of pieces handled, year 1894 5 I >579

Increase year 1901 over 1897, 25,693 or 46^ per cent.

Increase year 1901 over 1894, 29,763 or 57/0 P er cent.

SPECIAL DELIVERY BUSINESS.

Number of letters received and delivered, year 1901 11,682

Number of letters received and delivered, year 1897 7,260

Number of letters received and delivered, year 1894 4,894

Increase year 1901 over 1897, 4,423 or 61 per cent.

Increase year 1901 over 1894, 6,789 or 139 per cent.

Number of letters forwarded, year 1901 1 1,336

Number of letters forwarded, year 1897 7,308

Number of letters forwarded, year 1894 4,553

Increase year 1901 over 1897, 4,028 or 55^ per cent.

Increase year 1901 over 1894, 6,783 or 149 per cent.

Total number of Special Delivery letters handled, year 1901 23,018

Total number of Special Delivery letters handled, year 1897 14,568

Total number of Special Delivery letters handled, year 1894 9,447

Increase year 1901 over 1897, 8,450 or 58 per cent.

Increase year 1901 over 1894, 13,571 or 143-^ per cent.

MONEY HANDLED (ALL SOURCES).

Total amount handled, year 1901 $1,203,190 34

Total amount handled, year 1897 563,203 40

Total amount handled, year 1894 405,622 81

Increase year 1901 over 1897, $639,986.94 or 1 1 3 j s per cent.

Increase year 1901 over 1894, $797,567.53 or i96 r e per cent.

99
SCRANTON POSTOFFICE.

SCHEDULE OF ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF MAILS.

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POSTOFFICE HOURS.

Postmaster's and Assistant Postmaster's Offices — Open from 8 a.
m. to 12 m. and 1:30 to 6 p. m.

General Delivery Window— Open from 7 a. m. to 9 p. m. Sun-
days 9 to 10 a m.

Stamp Window — Open from 7 a. m. to 9 p. m. Sundays 9 to 10
a. m.

Carriers' Window — Open from 6:45 to 7:30 p. m. Sundays 9 to 10
a. m.

Money Order Window — Open from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m., week days
only.

Registry Window — Open from 8 a. in. to 6 p.m., week days only.

Letters and parcels can be registered at the Stamp Window from
6 p. m. to 9 p. m. Week days only.

"PARCELS-POST.

Unsealed packages of mailable merchandise may be sent by
Parcels-Post to Jamaica, including the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bar-
bados, The Bahamas, British Honduras, Republic of Honduras,
Mexico, The Republic of Hawaii (Sandwich Islands), The Leeward
Islands, The Republic of Colombia, Salvador, Costa Rica, the Danish
West India Islands— St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John — British
Guiana, The Windward Islands, Trinidad, Chili, Newfoundland,
Germany, Guatemala, Nicaragua, New Zealand and Venezuela, at
the postage rate, and subject to the conditions herein prescribed:

Limit of weight 11 pounds

Greatest length 3 feet 6 inches

Greatest length and girth combined 6 feet

Postage I2ca pound (to Chili 20c a pound)

Except that Parcels for Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico must
not measure more than two (2) feet in length or more than four (4)
feet iu girth.

A parcel must not be posted in a letter-box, but must be taken to
the postoffice, and presented to the person in charge, between the
hours of 9 a. rn. and 5 p. m., where a record will be made and a re-
ceipt given therefor.

PREPARATION FOR MAILING.

See that the parcel is securely and substantially packed, so that it
can be safely transmitted in the ordinary mail sacks, and that it is so
wrapped or enclosed that its contents can be easily examined by post-
masters and customs officers. If boxes are used, they should be pro-
vided with a sliding or hinged lid, as lids screwed or nailed to it will
exclude it from the mails.

See that it is plainly directed, giving the name and full address of
the person for whom the parcel is intended; that it bears the words
"Parcels- Post" conspicuously in the upper left-hand corner.

Packages sealed require letter rates. Packages unsealed, with
writing on inside in the nature of correspondence, require letter rates.

Certain articles of merchandise, sealed or unsealed, to foreign
countries, are stopped in the Dead Letter Office unless fully prepaid
at foreign letter rate.

Many articles of merchandise are absolutely prohibited trans-
mission in the mails. Therefore inquire before mailing.

Parcels to Canada or Mexico should not be closed against in-
spection.

The name and address of the sender should be on each parcel
before mailing. This is to facilitate a return to the sender in the
event of non-delivery.

PROHIBITED ARTICLES.

The following articles cannot be sent by Parcels-Post:

Publications which violate the copyright laws of the country of
destination; poisons and explosive or inflammable substances; liquids
and substances which easily liquefy; confections and pastes; live or
dead animals, except dead insects and reptiles, when thoroughly
dried; fruits and vegetables, and substances which exhale a bad odor;
lottery tickets, lottery advertisements, or lottery circulars; all obscene
or immoral articles; articles which might in any way damage or
destroy the mails or injure the persons handling them; and opium in
parcels for or from the Republic of Hawaii.

CUSTOMS DUTY AND POSTAGE CHARGES ON DELIVERY.

Dutiable articles received in the United States in Parcels-Post
mails will be rated and charged with the proper amount of customs
duty.

On the delivery of a parcel to the addressee a postage charge of
5 cents must be collected on each single parcel of whatever weight;
and if the weight exceeds i pound, a charge of i cent for each 4 ounces
of weight or fraction thereof will be collected; except that parcels
mailed in the Danish West Indies are subject to a maximum charge
of 10 cents; and that upon parcels mailed in British Guiana, The Wind-
ward Islands and Newfoundland, not more than 5 cents is collectible
on the delivery of any one parcel.

CLASSIFICATION OF DOMESTIC MAIL MATTER.

FIRST-CLASS.
Letters, sealed or unsealed, postal cards, and all matter wholly or
partly in writing, except that which is permissible in and on third
and fourth-class matter, and all articles sealed or otherwise closed
against the inspection of postmasters, except sealed packages of pro-
prietary articles of merchandise put up in fixed quantities by the
manufacturer so that each package may be examined in its simplest
mercantile form.

102

SECOND-CLASS.
Periodical publications, namely, all newspapers and other peri-
odical publications which are issued at stated intervals, and as fre-
quently as four times a year, which bear a date of issue, and are
numbered consecutively, are issued from a known office of publication,
are formed of printed paper sheets, without board, cloth, leather, or
other substantial binding. To be entitled to entry in this class, such
publications must be originated and published for the dissemination
of imformation of a public character, or devoted to literature, the
sciences, art, or some special industry; must have a legitimate list of
subscribers, and must not be designed primarily for advertising pur-
poses, or for free circulation or circulation at nominal rates.

THIRD-CLASS.
Books, circulars, pamphlets and other matter wholly in print (not
included in second-class matter), proof-sheets, corrected proof-sheets,
and manuscript copy accompanying the same.
PERMISSIBLE WRITING.

In or on any article of the third class, besides the address, may
be written the date, name and address and occupation of the sender.
Words or portions of printed matter may be marked, except by written
or printed words, to call attention to them. Typographical errors
may be corrected with pen or pencil. Books or other printed matter
may bear a written dedication or inscription such as "with the com-
pliments of " and similar inscriptions. On the outside of the pack-
age, in addition to the address, may be written the name and address
of the sender preceded by the word "from" with or without a request
to return if undelivered.

FOURTH-CLASS.

Merchandise, namely, all matter not embraced in the first, second
or third-class which is not in its form or nature liable to destroy,
deface or otherwise damage the contents of the mail bag, or harm
the person of any one engaged in the postal service, and not above
the weight provided by law.

PERMISSIBLE WRITING.

In or on matter of the fourth-class may be written any marks,
numbers, names or letters for the purpose of description, as in the
case of samples to indicate prices, etc. On the outside of the pack-
age, besides the address, may by written a statement of the contents,
and the sender's name, occupation and address, preceded by the
word "from" with or without a request to return if undelivered.

PREPARATION OF DOMESTIC MATTER FOR MAILING.

SECOND-CLASS MATTER.
No newspapers shall be received to be conveyed by mail unless
they are sufficiently dried and enclosed in proper wrappers. The

103

wrappers should be such that they cau be easily removed without de-
stroyiug theru or iujuriug their iuclosures. If the wrappers cannot
be easily removed, the matter is liable to postage at the first-class
rate.

THIRD-CLASS MATTER

must be placed under band, upon a roller, between boards, or in an
unsealed envelope, or closed so as not to couceal the nature of the
packet or its contents, or it may be so tied with a string as to easily
unfasten. Address-cards and all printed matter in the form of an
unfolded card may be mailed without band or envelope.

FOURTH-CLASS MATTER

not absolutely excluded from the mails, but which from its form or
nature might, unless properly secured, destroy, deface, or otherwise
damage the contents of the mail bag or harm the person of any one
engaged in the postal service, may be transmitted in the mails when
it conforms to the following conditions :

ist. When not liquid or liqufiable, it must be placed in a bag,
box, or removable envelope or wrapping, made of paper, cloth, or
parchment.

2d. Such bag, box, envelope, or wrapping must again be placed
in a box or tube made of metal or some hard wood, with sliding
clasp or screw-lid.

3d. In cases of articles liable to break, the inside box, bag, en-
velope, or wrapping must be surrounded by sawdust, cotton, or other
elastic substance.

4th. Admissible liquids and oils (not exceeding 4 ounce liquid
measure), pastes, salves, or articles easily liqufiable, must conform
to the following conditions : When in glass bottles or vials, such bot-
tles or vials must be strong enough to stand the shock of handling in
the mails, and must be enclosed in a metal, wooden, or papier-mache
block or tube not less than three-sixteenths of an inch thick in the
thinnest part, strong enough to support the weight of mails piled in
bags and resist rough handliug ; and there must be provided between
the bottle and said block or tube a cushion of cotton, felt, or other
like substance, sufficient to protect the glass from shock in handling;
the block or tube to be impervious to liquid, including oils, and to be
closed by a tightly fitting lid or cover of wood or metal, with a rubber
or other pad so adjusted as to prevent the leakage of the contents in
case of breaking the glass. When inclosed in a tin cylinder, metal
case or tube, such cylinder, case or tube should have a lid or cover so
secured as to make the case or tube water-tight, and should be se-
curely fastened in a wooden or papier-mache block (open only at one
end) and not less in thickness and strength than above described.
Manufacturers or dealers intending to transmit articles or samples in
considerable quantities, should submit a sample package showing
their mode of packing to the postmaster at the mailing office, who
will see that the conditions of this section are carefully observed.

104

5th. In case of sharp-pointed instruments the points must be
capped or encased so that they may not by any means be liable to
cut through their enclosure ; and where they have blades, such
blades must be bound with wire so that they shall remain firmly
attached to each other, and within their handles or sockets.

PREPARATION FOR MAILING — FOREIGN.

In order to insure prompt and safe transmission to destination
of articles addressed to foreign countries, they should (i) make the
address legible and complete, giving the name of the country as well
as that of the town or the postoffice. Articles addressed to "London"
may be sent either to England or Canada. (2) Avoid using flimsy
paper for envelopes, as they are liable to be torn or destroyed in the
long transits. (3) Avoid using sealing wax on the covers, as letters
so sealed often adhere to each other and the addresses of the articles
are destroyed by the tearing of the covers in the attempt to separate
the articles. (4) See that postage stamps affixed to the covers of
articles of printed matter do not adhere also to the articles them-
selves, thus virtually sealing the package, and thereby subjecting
them to additional postage, at the letter rate, on delivery.

Printed matter must be either placed under band, upon roller,
between boards, in a case open at one or both ends, or in an unclosed
envelope ; or simply folded in such a manner as not to conceal the
nature of the package ; or tied by a string easy to unfasten.

Commercial papers must be forwarded under band or in an open
envelope.

Samples of merchandise must be placed in bags, boxes or re-
movable envelopes, in such a manner as to admit of easy inspection;
they must not have any saleable value, nor bear any manuscript other
than the card of the sender, trademark, numbers, prices and indica-
tions relative to weight, size and quantity to be disposed of, and de-
scription or nature and origin of the merchandise.

PROHIBITED ARTICLES.

Liquids, poisons, explosive and inflammable articles, fatty sub-
stances, live or dead animals, insects (especially Colorado beetles),
reptiles, fruits or vegetable matter liable to decomposition, confec-
tionery, pastes or confections, and substances exhaling a bad odor,
are prohibited from transmission in the mails exchanged with foreign
countries ; as are also obscene, lewd, or lascivious books, pamphlets,
etc., and letters and circulars concerning lotteries, so-called gift con-
certs, etc.

Any packet whatever, containing articles (except samples of
merchandise) liable to customs duty in the countries addressed, is
prohibited from transmission in the mails to foreign countries. This
does not apply to Canada or Mexico, or to articles forwarded by
"Parcels-Post."

i°5
DOMESTIC POSTAGE %ATES

AND CLASSIFICATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ISLAND
POSSESSIONS AND CUBA, AND THE MILITARY AND NAVAL SERVICE
IN CHINA ; FORWARDING OF ALL MAIL MATTER TO PERSONS IN
THE UNITED STATES SERVICE ; GIFTS OR SOUVENIRS FOR OR FROM
PERSONS IN UNITED STATES SERVICE ; PENALTY AND FRANKED
MATTER.

Postoffice Department,
Washington, D. C, March 30, 1901.
Order No. jgj.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED :

1. That all mail matter originating in the United States for
transmission to Cuba, Guam, the Philippine Archipelago, or Tutuila
(including all adjacent islands of the Samoan group which are pos-
sessions of the United States) shall be subject to the United States
domestic classification, conditions and rates of postage.

2. That all mail matter originating in Cuba, Guam, the Philip-
pine Archipelago, or Tutuila, for transmission to the United States,
or from one to another of those islands, shall be subject to the United
States domestic classification, conditions and rates of postage.

Note I. — In this Order, Hawaii and Porto Rico are included in
the term "United States;" and Guam, Tutuila, and the Philippine
Archipelago are included in the term "island possessions."

Note 2. — To insure prompt delivery, mail matter sent to persons
in the United States service should include in the address the com-
plete designation of the organization, company or regiment, vessel
or other branch of the service to which the addressee belongs ; and
the postage thereon should be fully prepaid.

3. That all mail matter, whatever its class, addressed to persons
in the United States service, serving in the United States or any of
its island possessions, or Cuba, or en route to or from the United
States or any of its island possessions, or Cuba, whose change of
address is caused by official orders, shall be transmitted as rapidly as
possible until it reaches the addressee ; that the actual location of the
addressee, for the time being, shall be considered as the original
destination of the piece of mail matter; that such transmission shall
not be considered as "forwarding" in the sense in which that word
is used in the postal service, and that no additional postage shall be
required therefor.

4. That letters sent by soldiers, sailors and marines in the United
States service in Cuba, Guam, the Philippine Archipelago, or Tutuila,
addressed to places in the United States, when endorsed "Soldier's
letter," "Sailor's letter," or "Marine's letter," may be dispatched
to destination without prepayment of postage, and only the single
rate of postage shall be collected on delivery.

5. That the postage rates, conditions and treatment prescribed
throughout this order shall apply, as far as practicable, to all mail

io6

matter sent to or from persons in the United States military or naval
service while in China : Provided, That such mail matter sent by
persons in the United States service in China be endorsed to show
the branch of the service to which the sender belongs, as, for in-
stance, "U. S. soldier's letter," "U. S. sailor's letter," or "U. S.
marine's letter," and that such mail matter addressed to persons in
the United States service in China bears the complete designation of
the organization, company or regiment, or vessel, to which the
addressee belongs.

6. In pursuance of the President's Order of November 4,
1899, unsealed packages and parcels of mailable matter containing
only articles designed as gifts or souvenirs, and with no commercial
purpose and not for sale, sent by persons in the United States service
(military, naval, or civil), in Porto Rico, Guam, the Philippine
Islands, or Cuba, to members of their families in the United States ;
and unsealed packages of mailable matter of the same personal char-
acter, sent from the United States to officers, soldiers, sailors and
others in the public service in said islands, shall be transmitted
through the mails and delivered subject only to domestic postal rates
and regulations : Provided, That no such package shall exceed four
pounds in weight, and each shall be endorsed on the outside, in a
conspicuous place, with the word "Gift," or "Souvenir," or the
equivalent thereof; and that when sent from said islands to the
United States each such package shall be so marked as to show the
branch of the service to which the sender belongs, and be counter-
signed by a commissioned officer or a postmaster ; and that when
sent from the United States to said islands each such package shall
show the branch of the service to which the addressee belongs.

Postmasters are directed to advise senders of such packages of
the provisions of this section, and otherwise see that full instructions
are given for its proper execution.

7. That any article entitled to transmission free of postage in
the domestic mails of the United States, either in a "penalty" envel-
ope or under a duly authorized "frank," shall be entitled likewise to
transmission in the mails free of postage, between places in Cuba,
Guam, the Philippine Archipelago and Tutuila, from one to another
of those islands, from the United States to those islands, and from
those islands to the United States.

8. That the registration fee shall be eight cents, in addition
to the lawful postage.

9. That United States postage stamps shall be valid for the
payment of postage in the island possessions; and the overprinted
postage stamps of the island possessions shall be accepted in pay-
ment of postage wherever United States postage stamps are valid.

10. This Order shall be in effect April 1, 1901, and supercedes
Order No. 874, of July 26, 1900, which is hereby revoked ; and all
existing schedules conflicting herewith shall be modified accordingly.

CHAS. EMORY SMITH, Postmaster General.

107
MONEY ORDE% DIVISION.

DOMESTIC MONEY ORDERS— FEES.
When applying for money orders payable in the United States,

the printed application forms should be used: The following are the

fees payable thereon :

For orders for sums not exceeding $ i 50 3 cents

Over $ 2 50 and not exceeding 5 00 5 cents

Over 5 00 and not exceeding 10 00 8 cents

Over 10 00 and not exceeding 20 00 10 cents

Over 20 00 and not exceeding 30 00 12 cents

Over 30 00 and not exceeding 40 00 15 cents

Over 40 00 and not exceeding 50 00 18 cents

Over 50 00 and not exceeding 60 00 20 cents

Over 60 00 and not exceeding 75 00 25 cents

Over 75 00 and not exceeding 100 00 30 cents

INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDERS— FEES.

For sums not exceeding $10 10 cents

Over $10 and not exceeding $ 20 20 cents

Over 20 and not exceeding 30 30 cents

Over 30 and not exceeding 40 40 cents

Over 40 and not exceeding 50 50 cents

Over 50 and not exceeding 60 60 cents

Over 60 and not exceeding 70 70 cents

Over 70 and not exceeding 80 80 cents

Over 80 and not exceeding 90 90 cents

Over 90 and not exceeding 100 1.00

UMIT OF AMOUNT OF SINGLE ORDERS.
A single money order may include any amount from one cent to
one hundred dollars, inclusive, except when payable in Great Britain
and Ireland, Cape Colony or Jamaica, in which case the limit is $50 ;
but must not contain a fractional part of a cent.
PAYMENT OF ORDERS.
Every person who applies for payment of a money order is re-
quired to prove his identity, unless the applicant is known to be the
rightful owner of the order.

The payee of a money order may, by his written indorsement
thereon, direct it to be paid to any person whom he may designate.
PAYMENT UPON POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Persons signing money orders by power of attorney are required
to file a certified copy of such power of attorney, or a written order,
with the paying postmaster, before payment can be effected.
REPAYMENT OF MONEY ORDERS.
Repayment of a money order can be made to the person who
originally obtained it at the issuing office and by the return of the
order ; but the fee paid cannot be returned.

io8

ORDERS SENT TO PAYEE.
Purchasers of money orders are advised that they should mail
the order which they receive from the issuing postmaster to the
payee, whether the same be a domestic or international order, and
retain the receipt which they obtain with the order.

DUPLICATE ORDERS, HOW OBTAINED.
In case a money order is lost or destroyed, or becomes invalid,
as all money orders do after the expiration of one year, a duplicate
will be issued by the department at Washington, on application
therefor from either the remitter, payee or endorsee of the original,
at the office of issue or payment, and proper blanks will be furnished
for that purpose at any money order postoffice.

ORDERS DRAWN ON OFFICE OF ISSUE.

By an order of the Postmaster General, dated September 17,
1898, money orders may now be drawn upon the postoffice where
issued. This will enable persons in cities to pay their gas bills,
tradesmen's bills, organization dues, etc., without loss of time and
at an expense which is less than street car fare. To persons having
no bank account, and who cannot therefore use checks, it is partic-
ularly beneficial. Money transmitted in this way is absolutely safe.
MODIFICATION OF MONEY ORDER REGULATIONS BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

Arrangements have been completed between the Postal Admin-
istrations of Canada and the United States for the discontinuance of
the practice of charging commissions on the money order trans-
actions between the two countries and the adoption of uniform
charges for the purchase of money orders. On July 1 it is expected
that the United States will charge domestic rates on all orders pur-
chased on Canada, and that the exchange office system will be abol-
ished. As it is now, advices of money orders issued at points in the
States adjoining Michigan are forwarded to Detroit, the exchange
office for those States, where they are entered in the records and then
dispatched to the Canadian offices, which involves a delay of perhaps
twenty-four hours in the payment. The reduction in the fees to be
charged is a matter of great importance to the public. At present it
costs ten cents for all sums under ten dollars drawn on Canada, while
the domestic rate in the United States is as low as three cents on
sums not exceeding $2.50. It now costs $1.00 to send $100 to Canada,
while the same sum can be sent to any point in the United States for
thirty cents. Domestic rates are now in force between the United
States and her island possessions (the Philippines and Porto Rico).

iog

REGISTRY DIVISION.

The object of the registry system is the safe transmission and
accurate delivery of all matter entrusted to its care.

Mail matter may be registered at any postoffice, station or sub-
station thereof, as well as by any rural free delivery carrier, and by
letter-carriers in the residential districts of free delivery cities.

Every letter presented for registration must first be fully and
legibly addressed and securely sealed by the sender, and all letters
and other articles must also have the name and address of the sender
indorsed thereon in writing or print before they can be registered.

Postmasters and their employes are forbidden to address a reg-
istered letter or package for the sender, to place contents therein, or
to seal it, or to affix the stamps thereto ; this must in all cases be
done by the sender. Registered mail matter can only be delivered
to the addressees in person or on their written order. All persons
calling for registered matter should be prepared to furnish reasonable
proof of their identity, as it is impossible otherwise, at large post-
offices, to guard against fraud.

A return receipt, signed by the addressee and showing delivery,
is returned to the sender of each domestic registered letter or parcel,
for which there is no extra charge.

Letters and all valuable matter may be registered at the night
stamp w T indow from 6 to 9 p. m.

DOMESTIC REGISTRATION.

The fee on registered matter, domestic, is eight cents for each
letter or parcel, to be affixed in stamps, in addition to the postage.
Full prepayment of postage and fee is required. Two or more letters
or parcels addressed to, or intended for, the same person cannot be
tied or otherwise fastened together and registered as one.

FOREIGN REGISTRATION.

Foreign matter is subject to the same regulations as for domestic
matter, except that the sender of any registered article may obtain
assurance of its receipt by the person addressed, only by indorsing it
with the words "Return receipt requested."

The placing of eight cents in stamps, in addition to the regular
postage, on a package or letter, docs not register it. All matter must
be presented at the registry office so that it may be entered and a
receipt given therefor.

REGISTERED LETTER INDEMNITY.

Owners of first-class registered matter shall be indemnified for
losses thereof in the mails, the indemnity to be paid out of the postal
revenues, but in no case to exceed ten dollars for any one registered
piece, or the actual value thereof when that is less than ten dollars.

It is recommended that senders of registered letters write their
names across the sealed flaps of envelopes, or seal with wax.

CITY DELIVERY.
carriers' service.

Five deliveries to Hotel Jermyn, St. Charles and T v ackawanna
Valley Hotels, as follows: — 6.50, 9 and 10.50 a. m., 1.45 and 6 p. ni.

Four deliveries in the business section of the city, as follows : —
6.50, 9 and 10.50 a. m., 1.45 p. in. There are nine collections by cart
in this section.

In the three trip semi-business and resident section deliveries are
made as follows : — 7 30 and 10.50 a. m., 1.45 p. in. The carriers col-
lect as they deliver and in addition an evening collection by cart.

The two trip delivery service embraces all territory not covered
by that mentioned above, except the extreme outskirts of the city,
where only one delivery is made and the carriers collect as they
deliver.

Carriers are required to deliver mail matter at the offices or other
premises occupied by the persons addressed in all cases where such
deliveries are demanded ; but persons occupying offices or stores on
upper floors (especially in business buildings where elevators are not
used) will greatly facilitate the work of the carriers by providing
lock boxes or other suitable means for the delivery of their mail
matter on the first floor. This is, of course, not compulsory, but it
is obvious that the general adoption of such a system will expedite
the receipt of mail by all persons located on any carrier's route.

Carriers are required to deliver no mail matter except to the per-
sons addressed or to their authorized agents (which include servants,
clerks, housekeepers, janitors and others to whom such deliveries are
recognized as valid by the addressees), to receive all prepaid letters,
postal cards and small packages handed them for mailing while on
their routes, and to collect the postage due on any mail matter de-
livered by them.

Carriers are not permitted to deliver any mailable matter which
has not passed through the postoffice, to exhibit or to give informa-
tion concerning any mail matter to persons other than those ad-
dressed, or to deliver mail matter at unoccupied premises or on the
street (except to persons known by them to be authorized to receive
it and the delivery can be made without unreasonable delay). Car-
riers are not required to deliver packages the weight or bulk of which
would tend to delay the delivery of letters or other mail matter.
When such packages are received for delivery, notice is sent to the
addressees to send or call for them at the postoffice.

The Schedule of Carriers' Deliveries is necessarily a fixed one,
and the trips are so arranged as to secure the closest possible connec-
tion with mail arrivals (both inland and local) and with the collections
from the street letter boxes. The routes are so served as to suit, as
far as possible, the convenience of the majority of those residing or
doing business thereon ; but simultaneous delivery to all is not prac-
ticable, and those located on the more distant points of a route can-

Ill

not reasonably expect deliveries as early as those made nearer to the
starting point. On routes in business districts it sometimes happens
that a few persons report that the first delivery reaches their premises
before they are opened for business but that they are unwilling to
wait for the second delivery. In these cases the only remedy is to
provide a box attached to the outer door and connected with an
opening therein through which mail may be delivered by carriers on
the first trip.

To facilitate the collection and delivery of mail, the Postmaster-
General has authorized the use of house-to-house collection and
delivery boxes to be supplied by residents without expense to the
Postoffice Department. The collection of mail from private resi-
dences only from the boxes approved by the Postoffice Department.

GENERAL DELIVERY.

All mail matter bearing no street or box address and all mail
matter found undeliverable at its street address (of which the correct
address is not known and cannot be found in the directory), is placed
in the general delivery to await call. If bearing the name and ad-
dress of the sender, with a request to return within a specified time,
it is, if uncalled for, returned at the expiration of that time ; if no
particular time is named in the request, or if it bears the name and
address of the sender only, without request to return, it is returned
at the expiration of thirty days, if not previously called for. Matter
intended to be called for at the general delivery should be addressed
"General Delivery."

DELIVERY THROUGH LOCK BOXES.

All letters and other mail matter may be delivered through a
lock box when addressed to the lessee, or in his care to his employes,
to any member of his family or firm, or to his temporary visitors or
guest ; but such use of a box is confined to one person, family, firm,
or company.

BOX RENT — WHEN AND HOW PAYABLE.

The annual rent of lock boxes is payable quarterly in advance.
No box may be rented for a longer period than one quarter (three
months), and when rented at any period other than the beginning of
one of the official quarters of the fiscal year (which begin on the first
days of January, April, July and October, respectively), the propor-
tionate rent for the remainder of the current quarter must be paid in
advance. Prompt attention should be given to notices placed in
boxes requesting payment of rent, as otherwise the boxes must be
closed, as provided by postal regulations.

DEPOSIT FOR KEYS.

When a box is rented, two keys for the same will be furnished,
and a deposit of forty (40) cents will be required to secure the return
of such keys when the box is surrendered, which sum will be refund-

112

ed when the keys are returned. Extra keys will be furnished, when
required, on the same terms ; but no part of the deposit will be re-
funded until all the keys furnished have been returned.

It is not practicable to comply with requests from boxholders for
the delivery of one portion of their mail matter through box and
another portion by carrier, etc.

CARE OE KEYS.

Boxholders should exercise great care with regard to their box
keys, to prevent them from getting into the hands of unauthorized
or dishonest persons. Messengers should be cautioned against losing
or mislaying them, or leaving them (as they do occasionally) in the
keyholes of the boxes.

SPECIAL DELIVERY SYSTEM.

The special delivery system provides for the issue 01 a special
stamp, of the face valuation of ten cents, which, when attached to a
letter or package ^in addition to the lawful postage thereon) will
entitle such letter or package to immediate delivery within the car-
rier limit of a free delivery office between the hours of 7 a. m. and
10:30 p. m. daily ; Sundaj'S, 7:30 a. m. to 10:30 a. in.; by messengers,
who, upon delivery, will procure receipts from the parties addressed,
or some one authorized to receive them.

Common letters bearing only a special delivery stamp will be for-
warded, but the ordinary postage due will be collected of the addressee
on delivery.

When a special delivery letter is offered at its address, and deliv-
ery cannot be effected for any reason (such as the premises being
closed, an error in direction, the absence of any person authorized to
sign the receipt, or any other similar cause), it cannot be again offer-
ed for delivery, either at the original address or elsewhere, as a
special delivery letter, but will be delivered as soon after its return as
possible by letter carrier. If the person addressed has removed, it
will be forwarded free to its proper address, if it be known, either in
this city or at another postoffice, but will, in either case be delivered
only as an ordinary and not as a special delivery letter.

Special delivery letters should be posted at the general postoffice,
as when mailed in street boxes or at stations there is some delay inci-
dent to collection and dispatch to main office. They may also be
handed to any letter carrier (who cannot, however, deliver them, but
will bring them to the general postoffice, on his return from his trip).
Special delivery stamps may be purchased at the general postoffice
and stamp agencies.

An ordinary ten-cent postage stamp, or its equivalent in postage
stamps of other demiuations, affixed to a letter will NOT entitle it to
special delivery.

POSTAL DICTIONARY.

"printed matter"

is the reproduction upon paper, by any process except that of hand

or typewriting, of any words, letters, characters, figures, or images,

or of any combination thereof, not having the character of an actual

and personal correspondence, provided it is easy of recognition, as

such.

a "circular"

is "a printed letter, which, according to internal evidence is being
sent in identical terms to several persons," and does not lose its char-
acter as such by writing therein the date, name of the addressee or of
the sender, or the correction of mere typographical errors.
"COMMERCIAL. PAPERS."
All instruments or documents written or drawn wholly or partly
by hand, which have not the character of an actual and personal cor-
respondence.

"UNMAILABLE MATTER."

All matter which is, by law, regulation or treaty stipulation, pro-
hibited from being transmitted in the mails (such as obscene matter,
lottery matter, dangerous or destructive matter, coin and jewelry for
foreign countries, mutilated matter, matter in excess of weight, and
scurrilous matter on the outside of the envelope, wrapper or postal
card), or matter which, by reason of illegible, incorrect or insufficient
address of the person or office, cannot be forwarded to destination or
delivered to the person for whom intended.

INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC.

Do not hold your mail until the closing of business, but mail it
at frequent intervals during the day.

Postage stamps are neither redeemable nor exchangeable for
those of other denominations.

Stamped envelopes, which have been spoiled by misdirection or
other cause, and which have not been cancelled, if in a whole condi-
tion, will be redeemed for the value of the postage on them, payable
in stamps.

Mail matter deposited on the top of the letter boxes is not in the
custody of the postoffice. It is almost of daily occurrence to receive
packages which have been deposited in this manner with the stamps
torn off the wrapper by dishonest persons.

From ten to twenty minutes are required to transfer the mails
from the central office to the depots ; therefore, mail should be in the
central office not less than one-half hour before the departure of the
trains, and as much earlier as possible.

It is of daily occurrence that letters intended for registration are
received with the ordinary mail. Demand of your messengers the
receipt of this office, which is always given for matter that is pre-

n 4

seuted at the registry window for registration. Otherwise your letter
or parcel ruay not be registered.

When mail matter is returned to the sender for more postage or
for better direction, care should be taken to erase the rubber stamp
impression put on by the postoffice before again placing the article
in the mail, or better still, a new envelope or wrapper should be used.

Letters for delivery in the United States, Canada or Mexico will be
forwarded if one full rate of postage (2 cents) is paid, even if they be
overweight. Letters to all other foreign countries will be forwarded
without postage, but upon their arrival at destination will be charged
with double the unpaid postage, which must be paid by addressee be-
fore delivery.

"PRECAUTIONS "BEFORE SMAIL1NG.

See that the proper postage is prepaid.

Have your letters and packages properly addressed.

Have your card with a request to return upon the face of the
envelope, so that in case of non-delivery it will be returned directly
to you.

All letters and packages with valuable contents should be regis-
tered, as it is almost impossible to trace losses of ordinary mail matter.

More mail matter is improperly handled, delayed, and missent
because of imperfectly or carelessly written abbreviations of states
than from all the other causes combined.

When addressing matter for delivery in the city, the words
"Scranton, Pa.," should be used and not "City." This will prevent
the matter going astray which has been inadvertently sent out of
the city.

Persons mailing packages or parcels should not depend upon the
scales in the corner grocery or nearest drug store to determine the
proper amount of postage required, as only the scales in the postoffice
are relied upou to ascertain the correct weight.

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SPECIAL "REQUEST ENVELOPES.

Special request envelopes must be purchased of and ordered by
the postmaster, and will only be delivered by the Department to the
purchaser through the postmaster.

When stamped envelopes bearing a return request are purchased
in lots of 500 and upwards, the Government will print on them the
card of the sender, containing the name and address, free of charge.

It ordinarily takes about two weeks after an order is sent to the
Department before envelopes are received at this office. When
ordering envelopes, it is necessary to give the number, denomination,
quality and color, or to furnish a sample envelope.

RATES OF POSTAGE.

DOMESTIC.

Weight
Limit

First Class.— Letters, sealed packages and
all matter closed against inspection

Postal Cards and Private Mailing Cards...

Second Class. — Newspapers and periodical
publications that have been entered as

second-class matter

When mailed by persons other than pub-
lishers

Third Class. — Circulars, books and matter
wholly in print, engravings, lithographs,
wood-cuts, photographs (checks, deeds,
insurance policies), in blank, etc., proof
with manuscript accompanying same,
matter reproduced by cyclostyle, hecto-
graph, mimeograph, electric pen, or
other similar process easy of recognition,
when not in the nature of personal corre-
spondence ; seeds, bulbs, roots, scions
and plants ; visiting cards and business
cards

Fourth Class. — Merchandise and matter not
included in any of above classes, which
is not in its form or nature liable to de-
stroy or damage the contents of the mail-
bag, or harm persous engaged in the
mail service

2 cents for each ounce or
fraction thereof

1 cent each

1 cent per pound or frac-
tion thereof

1 cent for 4 ounces or frac-
tion thereof.

1 cent for each 2 ounces or
fraction thereof

1 cent for each ounce or
fraction thereof.

No limit.

No limit.
No limit.

4 pounds
(except for
single vol-
umes of
books — no
limit).

4 pounds

FOREIGN POSTAGE.

ALL FOREIGN COUNTRIES, EXCEPT CANADA AND MEXICO.

Letters per 15 grams ( ]/ 2 ounce) 5 cents

Single postal cards, each 2 cents

Double postal cards, each 4 cents

Newspaper and other printed matter, per 2 ounces 1 cent

COMMERCIAL PAPERS.
Packets not in excess of 10 ounces 5 cents

iiy

Packets in exeess of 10 ounces, for each 2 ounces or fraction
thereof 1 cent

SAMPLES OF MERCHANDISE.

Packets not in excess of 4 ounces 2 cents

Packets in excess of 4 ounces, for each 2 ounces or fraction

thereof 1 cent

Registration fee on letters or other articles S cents

Packages of samples must not exceed 12 oz. in weight, 12 inches
in length, 8 inches in breadth, and 4 inches in depth (if a roll — 12
inches in length and 6 inches in diameter).

Ordinary letters for any foreign country (except Canada and
Mexico) must be forwarded, whether any postage is prepaid on them
or not. All other mailable matter must be prepaid at least partially.

TO CANADA.

Same rates as for United States, except that " Commercial
Papers" are transmissible at the postage rates given above, under
head " Commercial Papers ; " that packages of seeds, plants, etc., are
subject to the postage rate of one cent per ounce, and that the follow-
ing articl'es are absolutely excluded from the mails, without regard to
the amount of postage prepaid, or the manner in which they are
wrapped, viz.:

All sealed packages other than letters in their usual and ordinary
form; all packages (except single volumes of printed books and pack-
ages of second-class matter), which weigh more than 4 pounds 6
ounces; Police Gazette, Police News, and publications which violate
any copyright law of Canada.

TO MEXICO.

Same rates as for United States, except that articles of miscel-
laneous merchandise (fourth-class matter), not sent as bona fide trade
samples, are required to be sent by "Parcels-Post; " and that the
following articles are absolutely excluded from the mails without
regard to the amount of postage prepaid or the manner in which they
are wrapped, viz.:

All sealed packages other than letters, in their usual and ordinary
form ; all packages (including packages of second-class matter, which
weigh more than 4 pounds 6 ounces) except such as are sent by
"Parcels-Post;" liquids, pastes, confections, and fatty substances;
publications which violate any copyright law of Mexico.

Single volumes of printed books in unsealed packages are trans-
missible to Mexico in the regular mails without limit as to weight.

"Commercial Papers," and bona-fide trade samples are trans-
missible to Mexico in the regular mails at the postage rate given
above, under head "Commercial Papers" and "Samples of Merchan-
dise," respectively.

UNITED STATES POSTAL cAGENCY <AT SHANGHAI.

Articles addressed for delivery at the following places in China,
viz.:

Cheefoo or Yenti, Newehwang, Shanghai,

Chin Kiang, Ning Po, Taku,

Chun King, Ourga, Tientsin,

Kaipiug, Peking, Wenchow,

Kaigan, Hang Chow, Wuchang,

Kiukiang, Hankow, Wunu,

Nanking, Ichang,

are transmissible in the mails made up in San Francisco and Tacoma
for the U. S. Postal Agency at Shanghai.

Articles of every kind and nature which are admitted to the
United States domestic mails are admitted to the mails exchanged
between the United States and the United States Postal Agency at
Shanghai, China; subject, however, to the following rates of postage,
which must be prepaid in all cases, by means of United States post-
age stamps, on all articles except official correspondence in "penalty"
envelopes:

First-class matter, 5 cents for each half ounce or fraction of half
ounce.

Postal Cards, single, 2 cents each ; double, 4 cents each.
Second and third-class matter, and samples of merchandise not
exceeding 8 ounces in weight, 1 cent for each 2 ounces or fraction of
2 ounces.

Fourth-class matter, 1 cent for each ounce or fraction of an
ounce.

Registration fee, 8 cents ; no additional charge for return receipt.

Articles other than letters in their usual and ordinary form must

not be closed against inspection, but must be so wrapped or inclosed

that they may be readily and thoroughly examined by postmasters

and customs officers.

cAthur W. Close,
Secretary and Stenographer.

William C D. Troche,
Superintendent Free "Delivery.

Louis G. Schautz,
Chief Mailing Clerk.

"Patrick J. SMesset,
Money Order Clerk.

J. Frederick Schwenk,
Registry Clerk.

Evan G. "Reese,
General Delivery Clerk.

'David H. 'Jenkins,
General Delivery Clerk.

George J. 'Duhigg,
Stamp Clerk.

Edward 'P. Janne,
Stamp Clerk.

Christian cfr(eher r -
Mailing Clerk.

Thomas F. cMcDonough,
Mailing Clerk.

Joseph W. Hall,
Mailing Clerk.

^Benjamin F. cAllen,
Distributor.

Joseph H. cMathias,
Distributor.

Elias Williams,
Utility Clerk.

George P. Fellenser,
Stamper,

John H. cMcDonough,
Stamper.

"Rutherford <B. H. Kinback,
Stamper.

"Royal Taft,
Substitute Clerk.

cMichael SVIaloney,
Substitute Clerk.

Julia cA. White,
Substitute Clerk.

William J. Elias,
Substitute Clerk.

William Campbell,
Special Delivery Messenger.

Cornelius Barrett,
Special Delivery Messenger.

nomas J. %eilley,
Special Delivery Messenger.

lames H. l^eilley.
Janitor.

John <P. White,
Watchman and Fireman.

John H. 'Phillips, William F. Gibbons,

Superintendent West Scranton Station. General Utility Clerk, West Scranton Station.

James F. Lynott, Carrier No. I.

John P. Forster, Carrier No. 2.

George R. Gehrer, Carrier No. 3.

Walter SMcNichols, Carrier No. 4.

E. S. Evans, Carrier No. 5.

John J. Higgins, Carrier No. b.

Joseph Schiel, Jr., Carrier No. 7.

Henry'lKnoepfel, Carrier No. 8.

William B. Prosser, Carrier No. ■?. William D. cMorgan, Carrier No. 10.

William cA. cMoser, Carrier No. II.

John Kelly, Carrier No. 12.

Leopold Johler, Carrier No. IS.

George c4. Jones, Carrier No. 14.

cArmit 7homas, Carrier No. 15.

SMichael J. O'Malley, Carrier No. lb.

Fred. H. Emery, Carrier No. 17.

Joseph Fidiam, Carrier No. 18.

John T. cMaloney, Carrier No. l q .

cArgus cA£. Jenkins, Carrier No. 20.

Harry E. Whyte, Carrier No. 21.

James cMcGinnis, Carrier No. 22.

Thomas O. Williams, Carrier No. 23.

Thomas R. Jones, Carrier No. 24.

Lucius R. Squier, Carrier No. 25.

David U. Reese, Carrier No. 2b.

John cMcDonough, Carrier No. 27.

Elmer E. cAffleck, Carrier No. 28.

William J. Oivens, Carrier No. 2<>.

^Benjamin L. Jones, Carrier No. 30.

William J. Cannon, Carrier No. 32.

Eugene Evans, Carrier No. 33. William H. liird. Carrier No. 34.

Victor H. Lauer, Carrier No. 35. George W. Frisbie, Carrier No. 3b.

Thomas D. Davis, Carrier No. 37.

John Tf. Davis, Carrier No. 38.

Isaac J. T'rice, Carrier No. 39.

'Burton E. Weldy, Carrier No. 40.

Thomas C B. "Birtley, Carrier No. 41.

Edward D. Jones, Carrier No. 42.

Harry H. Moore, Carrier No. 43. Ednuard J. Leonard, Substitute Carrier.

Henry KeUerman, Substitute Carrier. Henry R. Edwards, Substitute Carrier.

George A. Cobb, Substitute Carrier. 'Richard Evans, Substitute Carrier.

^y^-

international
Correspondence Schools

OF SCR ANTON, PA.

THE LARGEST PATRON OF THE
SCRANTON POST OFFICE

-?ffi^

EXECUTIVE BUILDINGS OF THE SCHOOLS.

■jr •cj» ■-jr -r^ -"jr fj-- ^j? fj» •-j? fj» •^? fj» •-jr fj» ■-jr fj» ^j? -<j» «j? ^ ^r f^

Scranton, Pa., July 30, 1901.
MR. E. J. FOSTER, Vice-Pees.,

The Colliery Engineer Co., Scranton, Pa.
Dear Sir :

Through some neglect, or inadvertence, for which I may probably
have been as much to blame as any one else, the article furnished by
you for insertion in the Post Office History, was omitted. I do not
want this to go out without having some mention of the patron of the
office which furnishes so much business, and I would therefore ask
you to furnish me with an article that I can attach as a supplement,
showiug the growth, scope of, and present condition of the Schools.
If you will kindly furnish me this, I will be much obliged.

Very truly yours,

EZRA H. RIPPLE, P. M.

* # 4

Scranton, Pa., August 23, 1901.
COL. EZRA H. RIPPLE, Postmaster,

Scranton, Pa.
My dear Sir :

la response to your letter of July 30, I take pleasure in enclosing
you a brief history of the International Correspondence Schools,
brought up to date of July 1, which I trust you will hnd satisfactory.
With kind regards, I remain,

Yours very truly,

RCFUS J. FOSTER,

Vice-President.

V ^v V "^ ^ "^ V "^ ^ ^ ^ ^r ^ ^r V ^ ^ ^ ^ ^r V ^T

HISTORY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CORRE-
SPONDENCE SCHOOLS OF SCRANTON, PA.

A history of the Scranton post office would he incomplete
without a brief sketch of the International Correspondence
Schools, an institution that has had the greatest influence on
the postal receipts at Scranton and is now using postage on
its outgoing mail amounting to about $100,000 a year.

The International Correspondence Schools, of Scranton,
Pa., had their origin in the fall of 1891 as The Correspond-
ence School of Mines, and their growth has been one of rapid
evolution aided by intelligent direction and a large expenditure
of capital. Over $2,000,000 have been invested in the busi-
ness, about 1,000 people are employed in the home offices,
and nearly 1,500 in the field department.

The School of Mines was originally established as an
adjunct to MINES AND MINERALS, a technical mining
journal published by The Colliery Engineer Company. In
1891, this periodical was called "The Colliery Engineer
and Metal Miner." Among its various editorial subdivi-
sions was one called "The Correspondence Department," in
which the readers of the journal asked and answered ques-
tions pertaining to practical mining operations. The services
of the editors were made available to the readers for assistance
in some of the more difficult questions.

The various States adopted in turn mining laws requiring
the employment of only such mine officials as could pass
examinations in the sciences connected with mining. As a
result of these laws, the more ambitious mine workers pur-
chased some or all of the few books that could be obtained
on mining subjects, and attempted to educate themselves.
As is usual in such cases, the majority of these men did not
have sufficient preliminary education to understand the

formulas and calculations involved in the principles taught;
or if they did, their studies were not properly directed, and
but few were successful. Those who were attempting to
educate themselves in this way asked assistance from "The
Correspondence Department" of MINES AND MINERALS,
whenever they came across a formula or a principle they
could not understand. The publication was a monthly,
however, and this was a slow method of gaining the desired
assistance. From time to time the editors were importuned

GROUP OF WRITERS AND PRINCIPALS.

to reply to inquiries by mail, and these requests becoming
at length very numerous, it was resolved to organize a "Corre-
spondence School of Mines" as an adjunct to MINES
AND MINERALS.

Experience had shown that ordinary textbooks are entirely
unsuited for this work; educated men of practical experi-
ence were therefore employed to prepare Instruction and
Question Papers on such lines as would meet the require-

ments of the class of men for whom the Schools were estab-
lished. There was adopted an original system of correcting
the work of each student, of giving him special instruc-
tion and explanations whenever necessary, and of hand-
ling his work so that he was actually "a class by himself,"
and could study and recite where and when he pleased.

The success of The Correspondence School of Mines
made it evident to the management of The Colliery Engineer
Company that there was a broader field for instruction by
mail; and in response to inquiries from all parts of the con-
tinent, The Correspondence School of Mechanics, The Corre-
spondence School of Architecture, The Correspondence School
of Electricity, The Correspondence School of Civil Engi-
neering, etc., and numerous subdivisions were formed from
time to time, and competent specialists were engaged as writers
of Instruction Papers and as Instructors. The authors of the
Instruction Papers all worked in such a way that while the
Papers were on different subjects and pertained to different
occupations, they were all on the same general plan. Each
course began with the most elementary branches, and by
easy steps approached and treated the advanced subjects con-
nected with each course. A special feature was that in each
course nothing essential to the course was omitted and nothing
superfluous was incorporated in the Instruction Papers.

The writer of the ordinary textbook assumes that the
student of that book will be under the guidance of a teacher
who will omit certain portions of the subject and embelish
others, according to the student's needs. He assumes, also,
that the student has a certain amount of preliminary educa-
tion. Such a writer does not often consider it necessary to
go into details in discussing the subject, since the teacher is
expected to draw upon his own knowledge in explaining impor-
tant points. In the preparation of textbooks or Instruction
Papers for Correspondence Instruction, it must be assumed

that the student knows nothing of the subject in hand, unless
it has been treated in a previous Paper. The textbooks for
each course must, therefore, be complete and at the same
time concise. Each Instruction Paper is one of a series on
some special subject, and it must not include anything that
does not pertain directly to that specialty ; it must, however,
contain everything necessary to a complete understanding of

TEXTBOOK DEPARTMENT. PREPARATION OF INSTRUCTION PAPERS.

the matter treated on and of the principles carried forward in
the more advanced Papers that follow. In accordance with
this idea the International Correspondence Schools are using
nine different original arithmetics, five different original Papers
on steam engineering, etc.

Much of the success of the Schools is due to the excellence
of these Instruction Papers — and to the easy, yet accurate,

language employed, and to the clearness with which princi-
ples are explained and illustrated.

These papers are frequently revised. This revision is
easier and less expensive than would be the case with ordi-
nary textbooks. This is because they consist of connected
serial parts of from 30 to 100 pages each; besides, experience
in teaching from these Instruction Papers enables the writers
to determine which particular points in each are most diffi-
cult of comprehension, and the aim is to make each revi-
sion of an Instruction Paper clearer, if possible, than the
former edition. Changes and improvements in apparatus
and methods are noted, and the student receives the latest
and best information on the subject studied. Up to the
present time, hundreds of these Instruction Papers, with
their accompanying Question Papers, have been prepared and
copyrighted at a cost for authorship and printing of over half
a million dollars.

Many persons who have always believed the presence of
a teacher necessary to a successful mastery of any subject,
cannot understand how the International Correspondence
Schools are meeting with success so wonderful and lasting.
The following explanation will make this point clear: In a
resident school or college, the student studies his lessons
and then proceeds to the recitation room where he works out
exercises on the blackboard and answers the questions of the
teacher. The latter, in explaining the subject, goes into
details not found in the textbook, illustrates his remarks with
experiments, examples, etc, and explains any points that
the student does not fully understand.

By the International System the student first studies an
Instruction Paper fully illustrated with drawings of experi-
mental and practical apparatus, and containing numerous
examples for practice. He then goes to the "recitation
room,'' which is wherever his paper and ink happen to be,

and writes his answers to the School's printed questions.
These he forwards to Scranton for examination and correc-
tion, and then proceeds with the study of the next Instruc-
tion Paper.

As will be noted by comparing the statements above, the
two processes are almost parallel, with the exception that the
teacher furnishes additional information in the recitation
room. To meet this point the Schools provide such informa-

PART OF EXAMINATION DEPARTMENT. EXAMINERS CORRECTING
STUDENTS' LESSON PAPERS.

tion in the Instruction Papers, and in addition furnish each
student with information blanks on which to inform his
instructor of any difficulties with which he has met and on
which he asks additional instruction. In reply he receives a.
minute, careful explanation of the subject he has failed to
understand. If, through great lack of elementary education,
he very frequently meets with difficulty in the study of any
subject, a "Special Instructor" is assigned to him, on request,,
who gives special attention to his case.

The results attained by the Schools have been such that
the management guarantees to any student the successful
completion of any subject provided only that he can read and
write English and is willing to try. When the student's
answers are received at the Schools, they are first examined
by Instructors specially trained for the work. They carefully
go over the work, checking in red ink errors in arithmetic,
spelling, punctuation, etc. The answers are then submitted
to the Principals for the final examination and correction of
such subjects as the examiners are not competent to correct.
When an error is discovered, it is not only indicated in red
ink but a careful explanation of that particular error is
written on the back of the sheet. Whenever necessary,
special instructions are given to the student on points in
which he is weak.

The method of teaching drawing is original, and its
results are practical. In all courses that include this subject,
the first Instruction Paper on Drawing is sent with the first
work, together with a mailing tube in which to return the
finished plate. The Instruction Paper contains detailed
directions for the use and care of drawing instruments, for
making the first plate, and for sending in the work. Begin-
ning with the drawing of simple lines, the student is gradually
made familiar with geometrical constructions in daily use in
the drafting room, and thus advances to actual working
plans of mechanical and architectural constructions, etc.
The Model Plates sent to the student are from zinc etchings,
made smaller than the original plates, and the student makes
an original drawing to the required scale.

Papers or Drawing Plates are entered upon the record
books as passed when 90% or more of the work is correct.
If the student fails to attain 90% at the first trial, he is given
special exercises until he masters the subject. With each
corrected set of answers, or Drawing Plates, the student receives

a "Student's Record Card," which states the per cent,
allowed on the work. Finely engraved "Certificates of
Progress" bearing the signature of the Principal and the Seal
of the Schools, are sent the student upon the completion of the
Preparatory, Drawing, Intermediate, Advanced, and Techni-
cal divisions of a Course, and a "Certificate of Proficiency,"
or Diploma, is awarded when the student attains 90%, or
over, on his final examination.

PART OF MAILING DEPARTMENT.

The Instruction and Question Papers are sent to the stu-
dent in such a manner that he alwa} r s has work on hand, so
that when one set of Answers is in transit through the mail
to the Schools, he has the succeeding set of Instruction
Papers, or Drawing Plates to work on. The Instruction
Papers become the property of the student, who, however,
pledges himself to reserve them strictly for his own use. In
addition to the Question and Instruction Papers furnished to

the student, as he progresses with his work, he is provided with
a complete duplicate set of all the Instruction and Question
Papers, Drawing Plates, and Keys, fully indexed and uni-
formly bound in half leather. The} 7 are a library of practical
information on the subject treated; and to the student, they
are really worth more than the entire cost of his Course.

The growth of the Internationl Correspondence School as
is shown by the following table of enrollments of students
beginning with October 16, 1891, when the first student in
The Correspondence School of Mines was enrolled.

October 16, 1891 1

January 1, 1892 115

January 1, 1893 1,231

January 1, 1894 3,092

January 1, 1895 5,657

January 1, 1896 10,115

January 1, 1897 16,635

January 1, 1898 30,252

January 1, 1899 68,824

January 1, 1900 139,280

July 1, 1900 188.554

July 1, 1901 311,589

This enormous growth was due partly to the judicious and
successful plans of the management, and partly to the uni-
form success of the students, and their strong endorsement
of the institution among their friends. The growth of the
Schools is aptly illustrated by the following table of annual
expenditures for postage on the outgoing mail of the Schools:

Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year
Year

ending
ending
ending-
ending
ending
ending
ending
ending
ending
ending
ending

May 31
May 31
May 31
May 31
May 31
May 31
May 31
May 31
May 31
May 31
May 31

1891 $ 633.89

1892 1,043.34

1893 2,502.12
1894. . 7,259.32

1895 . 9,429.88

1896 17,454.19

1897 26,199.35

1898 34,063.68

1899 .... 37,751.00

1900 53,204.40

1901 72,177.87

The establishment and successful work of these Schools
not only marked a new era in the educational development
of the world, but they have exemplified the benefits conferred
on the citizens of the United States by our unexcelled
postal facilities.

Naturally, the success of an institution such as the Inter-
national Correspondence Schools has had a tendency to
cause unscrupulous attempts to take advantage of their
reputation and business standing, and to either adopt a name
similar, or one that would be likely to cause people to think
that by patronizing them they are enrolling in the Interna-
tional Correspondence Schools. These counterfeits, like
other fraudulent schemes, are short-lived.

The headquarters of the International Correspondence
Schools are in their own handsome buildings on Wyoming
Avenue, Scranton. In these buildings most of the instruc-
tion work and the general management are centered. An
immense new building to accommodate the large Printing
Plant is under construction on Wyoming Avenue, a few
blocks north of the present main building. The overflow from
the present office buildings, which overflow is now quartered in
over a dozen other buildings of the city, will be domiciled in
this structure. The new building will cover an area of
167 X 460 ft., and will be three and four stories in height.
There are branch enrollment and collection offices in most of
the important cities and towns of the United States and
Canada, and the employes connected with these offices
represent the International Correspondence Schools solely as
solicitors for business. In addition to the various branch
enrollment and collection offices, the Schools have six hand-
some special Railway Cars, built especially for the purposes
of the Schools. These cars are equipped in a very superior
manner as Air- Brake Instruction Cars and are supplied with
models of standard locomotives. Competent instructors in

Locomotive Running and Air-Brake practice accompany each
car and give personal instructions, illustrated by stercopticon
views, to employes of the principal trunk lines all over the
country. The cars are constantly traveling over the railway
systems of the country enrolling students, who receive their
instruction from the home office in Scran ton, Pa., and in
addition, are given special instructions by the lecturers in the
cars. This department of the work of the Schools has met
with very great favor among the leading railway officials of
the United States and Canada, who have found by experience
that the value of the services of their employes is in direct

ONE OF THE SIX INSTRUCTION CARS.

proportion to their advancement in the Course they have
studied in the Schools. At this time the International Cor-
respondence Schools have contracts with over fifty of the
most prominent railway lines in the United States, over
which these cars are transported ; and the railway officials
are urgent in advising their employes to enroll in the Schools.
Aside from the branch enrollment offices and the cars,
the Schools have no branches, nor are they in any way con-
nected with any of the weak counterfeits that are attempting
to acheive success by fraudulent methods.

m07-S-80-01-lm